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
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Recent Examples of gradually
During the two years Échale operated at the Lumberyard, its menu gradually evolved from tacos to a more California-Mediterranean style of food.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
The new Zeekr model, developed with Chinese automaker Geely, is designed specifically for robotaxi use cases and will be rolled out gradually as the company expands its service.
—Akash Sriram, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
While the rest of the country gradually adapts, Arizona is among the nine states leading this evolution.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Eggers' stunning visuals and meticulous pace draw viewers into their increasingly desperate mania, gradually wedging open the door between rational interpretation and supernatural inescapability.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
While India has traditionally relied on Russian weapons and discounted oil, its defense imports from Moscow have gradually declined as New Delhi seeks to diversify suppliers and expand domestic production.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
In the winter of 1907, Toklas entered Stein’s life, gradually transforming it.
—Daphne Merkin, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, the two gradually achieve a sort of intimacy, one that after a time turns physical and romantic.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Prices gradually rise from 2019 to 2022, spike sharply above $10,000 in early 2024, then decline but remain higher than pre-2022 levels.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
The new Zeekr model, developed with Chinese automaker Geely, is designed specifically for robotaxi use cases and will be rolled out gradually as the company expands its service.
—Akash Sriram, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
While the rest of the country gradually adapts, Arizona is among the nine states leading this evolution.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Eggers' stunning visuals and meticulous pace draw viewers into their increasingly desperate mania, gradually wedging open the door between rational interpretation and supernatural inescapability.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
While India has traditionally relied on Russian weapons and discounted oil, its defense imports from Moscow have gradually declined as New Delhi seeks to diversify suppliers and expand domestic production.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
In the winter of 1907, Toklas entered Stein’s life, gradually transforming it.
—Daphne Merkin, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, the two gradually achieve a sort of intimacy, one that after a time turns physical and romantic.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Prices gradually rise from 2019 to 2022, spike sharply above $10,000 in early 2024, then decline but remain higher than pre-2022 levels.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradually
Adverb
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The wreckage is slowly being subsumed by the reef in the shallow blue waters of the tropical lagoon, but its story is far from over.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Catts, with no other option, turned the parade onto 17th Street and slowly wound it back to the American Royal building, leaving the spectators in downtown wondering where the parade had gone.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Over the course of its deadly 67 minutes, the crew of a deep-space cruiser are progressively murdered.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The company behind the iconic Roomba robotic vacuum has been watching its stock progressively slide since 2021 as its early success was overrun by stiff competition from Chinese rivals Anker, Ecovacs, and Roborock.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gradually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradually. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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