gradual

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

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

gradualness

3 of 3

noun (2)

grad·​u·​al·​ness

-lnə̇s

plural -es

: graduality

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

Late July also marks the gradual strengthening of the Perseid meteor shower, with occasional early meteors now appearing after midnight. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 24 July 2026

And while one specific behavior transforming a person’s whole life may make sense in a social media reel, real life takes a lot more personalization, trial and error, and gradual change, Mokari said. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Both reflect a market pricing for extremes, boom or bust, rather than the gradual middle most investment portfolios are built to handle. — Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Instead, the Takaichi criticism reflects a gradual shift in attitudes towards work and gender roles, especially among younger Japanese, Brown says. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradus

Noun (1)

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 (1)

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