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

By the second day, her heart had begun to recover enough for doctors to remove the device and gradually bring her out of sedation. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Rain pummeled the ground outside the tunnel, but the storm was short-lived, gradually letting up and then stopping altogether. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026

There’s also some reflection on how the arc of this transformation of television has gradually bent back towards the old ways. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 6 July 2026

Those with hands better suited for gripping and precision were more likely to thrive, gradually shaping the modern human hand. — Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 6 July 2026

For those who want their evening to unfold more gradually, Saint-Tropez does the dinner-to-party format better than almost anywhere. — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026

In other words, everybody gradually got better regardless of the treatment. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 6 July 2026

Approaching school prep gradually will also help families save money, according to Bryan-Podvin. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 6 July 2026

For Slattery, what begins as an exercise in comic self-demolition gradually becomes the movie’s biggest surprise, with the actor turning a desperate, delusional version of himself into its most unexpectedly lovable character. — Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026