graduated

adjective

grad·​u·​at·​ed ˈgra-jə-ˌwā-təd 

1

: marked with divisions indicating degrees or units of measurement

a graduated cylinder/tube

graduated measuring cups

2

a

: divided into or arranged in grades, steps, or successive levels usually proportionally

a graduated series of honors

b

of a tax : increasing in rate with increase in taxable base : progressive

a graduated income tax

Examples of graduated in a Sentence

a series of bowls in graduated sizes

Recent Examples on the Web

Or, our winner can take home nearly the total amount in 30 graduated payments over 29 years. —George Petras, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

Cignetti even found a replacement for graduated center Mike Katic — Pat Coogan, a 13-game starter on Notre Dame’s CFP runner-up team. —Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

First, a cut in the top rate is the most powerful among all possible rate cuts in a graduated scale, on a simple percentage basis. —Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025

As a result, because there’s no graduated penalty, even the most serious — and rare — immediate jeopardy violations effectively carry no punishments so long as the hospital puts steps in place to avert future problems. —Kff Health News, Oc Register, 17 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

see graduate entry 1

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing graduated

• graduated cylinder

Rhymes for graduated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated

Kids Definition

graduated

adjective

grad·​u·​at·​ed

: marked with divisions indicating degrees or units of measurement

graduated measuring cups

Legal Definition

graduated

adjective

grad·​u·​at·​ed

ˈgra-jə-ˌwā-təd

of a tax : increasing in rate with increase in taxable base : progressive