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

Sony’s Climate Station, a free edutainment game for the PlayStation 5 and PS VR2, takes players through a year’s worth of weather events and charts the gradual warming of earth across the past 120 years. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026

Rather than elements raining out as minerals in stately succession because of gradual cooling, the rapid plunge in temperature would outpace chemical reaction rates in the disk. —Javier Barbuzano, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026

Area rivers are all on a very gradual, downward trend but many will still be at the flood stage when Thursday’s system rolls through, according to King, who added that the rain will likely slow, if not halt those receding levels. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

The results showed a gradual increase in voltage. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026

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