gradual

1 of 2

adjective

grad·​u·​al ˈgra-jə-wəl How to pronounce gradual (audio)
-jəl,
ˈgraj-wəl
1
: moving, changing, or developing by fine or often imperceptible degrees
2
: proceeding by steps or degrees
gradually adverb
gradualness noun

gradual

2 of 2

noun

often capitalized
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

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
Touchless fingerprint verification and authentication are key to this democratization, thanks to their scalability and the gradual reduction in costs. Tony Bradley, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 It’s been a gradual slide, starting in the mid-2000s, around the time the Iraq War was going south both in public opinion and actual events on the ground. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023 It is characterized by the gradual degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain, leading to a variety of symptoms including tremors, stiff muscles, confusion, sleep problems and difficulty with balance and coordination. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2023 This budget-friendly alarm clock produces a gradual glow 10, 30, or 60 minutes before the set wake up time. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2023 What Kore-eda doles out are not revelatory surprises so much as gradual enlightenments, and our attitude toward the characters is forbidden to settle or to stick. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2023 The sector went through a double-digit slump over the summer but has mounted a gradual recovery. Damian Garde, STAT, 22 Nov. 2023 Other factors like age, health conditions, and individual immune responses may also contribute to the gradual decrease in vaccine effectiveness, Yancey said. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2023 But the original rules and the gradual dwindling of board members, due to conflicts of interest and a dispute with Musk, could help explain how a small group could sack Altman without chairman Greg Brockman’s involvement, and eject both Brockman and Altman from the panel. WIRED, 19 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gradual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gradual was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near gradual

Cite this Entry

“Gradual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gradual. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on gradual

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