Synonyms

gradually

American

[graj-oo-uh-lee] / ˈgrædʒ u ə li /

adverb

by small degrees or little by little.

The hurricane moved northwestward to northward for two days, gradually weakened to a depression, and then turned eastward.
Over the following decades, the curriculum was gradually expanded, with additional offerings in history, government, languages, geology, and geography.

Other Word Forms

ungradually adverb

Etymology

Origin of gradually

gradual ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Later timers turn on more gradually, giving important experiences the structural support needed to persist.

From Science Daily

"Regulations, the consumer's comfort with this product, and also how you manage airspaces, your supply chains, all need to catch up gradually," Michael Du, vice president of Aridge, told reporters at a recent event.

From Barron's

They are meant to be injected into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach, with doses gradually increased.

From BBC

She gradually stepped back from stage and screen roles as her central vision declined.

From Salon

His seamless design emerges only gradually and circuitously.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023