gradual

1 of 2

adjective

grad·​u·​al ˈgra-jə-wəl 

-jəl,

ˈgraj-wəl

1

: moving, changing, or developing by fine or often imperceptible degrees

a gradual change in temperature

2

: proceeding by steps or degrees

a gradual climb to the top

gradually adverb

gradualness noun

gradual

2 of 2

noun

variants often Gradual

1

: a book containing the choral parts of the Mass

2

: a pair of verses (as from the Psalms) proper after the Epistle in the Mass

Synonyms of gradual

Adjective

• incremental
• phased

Examples of gradual in a Sentence

Adjective

We noticed a gradual change in temperature.

The hospital has made gradual improvements in health care.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But gradual increases are now visible. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025

Melissa is expected to make a gradual slowdown and turn to the east-northeast over the weekend and weaken further over the next few days. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025

L’Oréal chief executive officer Nicolas Hieronimus noted that the company is seeing a gradual recovery in mainland China, where the group outpaced the market. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025

The fabled middle path—where AI adoption will be gradual, and workers will transition smoothly while investors earn reasonable returns—is an accounting fiction. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradus

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduale, from Latin gradus step; from its being sung on the steps of the altar

First Known Use

Adjective

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gradual

adjective

grad·​u·​al

ˈgraj-(ə-)wəl,

ˈgraj-əl

1

: proceeding by steps or degrees

2

: moving or changing by slight degrees

gradually adverb

gradualness noun