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

Over that period, the Maillard reaction causes sugars and amino acids to react under heat, which gradually turns the cloves dark. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

The system creates antiprotons and gradually bleeds off their energy. — George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Those exclusive windows, sharply shortened during the pandemic, have gradually lengthened again, according to Octavio Alzola, programming and marketing director at arthouse cinema chain Cines Renoir. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026

During the day their stems gradually bend so that their leaves and developing flower buds follow the Sun westward. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Nov. 2026

The overcast skies and rainy weather will stick around into Tuesday — making for a wet Election Day — then gradually begin easing on Wednesday, said Zach Law, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

Conditions should gradually improve heading into the weekend. — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026

While rain chances are forecast to decrease as the week progresses, temperatures are expected to gradually increase, Garcia said. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

Over the following decades, the requests and delays while jacks were fiddled gradually receded. — Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026