Synonyms of gradually

gradually

adverb

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

• slowly
• bit by bit
• progressively
• by degrees
• inch by inch
• little by little
• piece by piece
• increasingly
• piecemeal
• gradationally
• imperceptibly
• hierarchically
• inchmeal
• fractionally
• crescively

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suddenly
• abruptly
• sharply
• steeply
• acutely
• hastily
• precipitously

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gradually

Sacro was born from that idea and has gradually become its own universe. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026

That continuity allows children to develop within a familiar educational philosophy and communitywhile gradually accepting greater academic, social, and personal responsibility. — Jose Bolaños, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

The crimson hue that may have been visible at the height of the eclipse will gradually fade as the crescent of the lunar disk exposed to direct sunlight grows, and normality reasserts itself over the natural satellite. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

With no score, the film’s vivid sound design of billowing foliage, creaky doors and floorboards, creates an austere ambience that softens with quiet feeling as the contours of the family’s troubles are gradually filled out. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026

American buyers have spent years being nudged toward ever-larger crossovers and SUVs, while small hatchbacks have gradually disappeared from the mainstream. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026

And in doing so, everything gradually registers — the cadence of campus life, the pride pulsing through students and alumni, the weight of the institution’s history. — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Once in place, the incentive automatically reduces a property’s taxable value by 60% for 10 years, then gradually returns to baseline over the final two years. — Alex Nitkin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Don’t worry, the offshoots are going to mature in about a year to gradually replace those of the parent plants. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026