gradation
noun
gra·da·tion
grā-ˈdā-shən 
grə-
1
a
: a series forming successive stages
the gradations of evolutionary development
b
: a step or place in an ordered scale
2
: an advance by regular degrees
gradations of social progress
3
: a gradual passing from one tint or shade to another
4
: the act or process of grading
5
: ablaut
gradationally
adverb
Did you know?
In the Boy Scouts, gradations of rank move upward from Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout. A violin or a voice can produce gradations of musical pitch too small to appear in written music. In the 18th century Jonathan Swift could even write of "the several kinds and gradations of laughter, which ladies must daily practice by the looking-glass".
Examples of gradation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And emotion is almost infinite in terms of the gradation of it and the spectrum of human emotions.
—
Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 17 June 2025
That’s too bad, because Smart is more than capable of a subtler gradation of performance.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 June 2025
The dial, in a gradation of colors of the sea, reveals the shark emerging from the waves depending on the light and viewing angle.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The prototype's brightness and colors looked excellent for an LED TV when stepping to the side, something Sony says is due to both the new display's cell structure as well as its advanced control over color gradation.
—Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradation
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Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 17 June 2025
That’s too bad, because Smart is more than capable of a subtler gradation of performance.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 June 2025
The dial, in a gradation of colors of the sea, reveals the shark emerging from the waves depending on the light and viewing angle.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
The prototype's brightness and colors looked excellent for an LED TV when stepping to the side, something Sony says is due to both the new display's cell structure as well as its advanced control over color gradation.
—Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradation
Cite this Entry
“Gradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gradation. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gradation
noun
gra·da·tion
grā-ˈdā-shən
grə-
1
a
: a series of grades
2
: the act or process of grading
gradationally
adverb
-ē
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