as in slowly
by small steps or amounts
gradually worked his way down the class roster add the sugar to the beaten egg whites gradually to make the meringue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gradually
The lens surface gradually transitions in prescription strength, with no lines bifurcating your vision.
—
Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Through emulsification, essentially gradually adding one ingredient to another while rapidly mixing, disperses tiny drops of one of those liquids into the other to form a uniform blend.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
Achieving the President’s vision will require serious investment by the private sector as government subsidies are gradually removed from the equation, and much of that capital investment must be provided by the defendant firms in this case.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Permeable paver parking lots improve water quality and drainage because they are designed to gradually filter stormwater into the lot’s underlying subbase, the release said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Start small, drink plenty of water, and gradually increase your intake.
—Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 1 Sep. 2025
Both organizations eliminated all inpatient mental health care, with Tri-City closing its 18-bed unit in 2018, citing financial and regulatory difficulties, and Palomar gradually reducing its services from 22 to a dozen beds in 2020 and then eliminating the remainder last year.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Slowly or gradually are also big ones.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025
Both swell and surf will begin to gradually lower Tuesday.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Through emulsification, essentially gradually adding one ingredient to another while rapidly mixing, disperses tiny drops of one of those liquids into the other to form a uniform blend.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025
Achieving the President’s vision will require serious investment by the private sector as government subsidies are gradually removed from the equation, and much of that capital investment must be provided by the defendant firms in this case.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Permeable paver parking lots improve water quality and drainage because they are designed to gradually filter stormwater into the lot’s underlying subbase, the release said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Start small, drink plenty of water, and gradually increase your intake.
—Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 1 Sep. 2025
Both organizations eliminated all inpatient mental health care, with Tri-City closing its 18-bed unit in 2018, citing financial and regulatory difficulties, and Palomar gradually reducing its services from 22 to a dozen beds in 2020 and then eliminating the remainder last year.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Slowly or gradually are also big ones.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025
Both swell and surf will begin to gradually lower Tuesday.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradually
Adverb
-
Worthy remained on the turf before walking slowly off the field, and then to the locker room.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Fans booed as Carter walked off slowly, the standout defensive tackle holding his helmet in his hands behind his back.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Teams can go over the salary cap, but there are progressively tougher penalties — such as luxury taxes and roster-construction restrictions — that make things tougher for organizations.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Even just a few levels into the game, there are challenges where seemingly endless waves of enemies grow progressively stronger and one poor choice can lead to redoing an entire gauntlet of fights.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gradually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradually. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share