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

As his relationships deepened and demand for the wines grew, what had started as a hobby gradually became a full-time pursuit. — Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

However, as the mines depleted and resources shifted, the town was gradually abandoned, leaving behind an eerie stillness. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026

Gaddy said peak androgen levels typically hit in a man’s 30s and 40s, then taper gradually rather than dropping off a cliff. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026

Plus, the cushioned footbed gradually molds to your feet over time. — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue into Tuesday evening before gradually diminishing overnight. — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2026

These interactions cause decoherence, gradually disrupting the delicate quantum properties such as superposition and entanglement—that give quantum computers their power. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026

Madrid’s World Cup players gradually began to return as their countries’ campaigns came to an end, including Federico Valverde after Uruguay’s miserable group-stage exit. — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Over time and used consistently, the cocktail gradually restores hair’s natural body, while there are immediate effects, too. — Nadine Solano, Vogue, 24 July 2026