graduated

American  

[graj-oo-ey-tid] / ˈgrædʒ uˌeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. characterized by or arranged in degrees, especially successively, as according to height, depth, or difficulty.

   a graduated series of lessons.

2. marked with divisions or units of measurement.

3. (of a bird's tail) having the longest feathers in the center, the others being successively shorter.

4. (of a tax) increasing along with the taxable base.

   a graduated income tax.

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graduated Scientific  

/ grăj′o̅o̅-ā′tĭd /

1. Divided into or marked with intervals indicating measures, as of length, volume, or temperature.

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Other Word Forms

• nongraduated adjective
• overgraduated adjective
• ungraduated adjective

Etymology

Origin of graduated

First recorded in 1645–55; graduate + -ed ²

Explanation

When something is graduated, it goes step-by-step or by degrees, such as a graduated income tax that has different tax rates for different levels of income. Fees for a fishing license might be graduated, depending on how big the fish you’re trying to catch is. If you're fishing for little porgies, the license might cost $3, but if you're going for a shark, the fee might be $50. A measuring cup is a graduated container — it has lines on the side that mark out divisions, in this case, ¼ cup, ½ cup, and so on.

Example Sentences

There were 29 players on the roster last year and nine graduated.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism and worked in public relations and technology marketing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Finnian graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in July 2019 and had previously played the role of Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

My grandfather, who was a 70-hour-a-week physician — graduated medical school in 1920 — took a look at me two hours after I was born and told my mom, “He’s gonna be trouble.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

At seventy-four miles an hour she graduated from a tropical storm to a hurricane.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith