gradual

American  

[graj-oo-uhl] / ˈgrædʒ u əl /

adjective

1. taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little.

   gradual improvement in health.

   Antonyms:

   sudden

2. rising or descending at an even, moderate inclination.

   a gradual slope.

   Synonyms:

   gentle

   Antonyms:

   precipitous

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noun

1. Ecclesiastical.

   1. an antiphon sung between the Epistle and the Gospel in the Eucharistic service.

   2. a book containing the words and music of the parts of the liturgy that are sung by the choir.

gradual British  

/ ˈɡrædjʊəl /

adjective

1. occurring, developing, moving, etc, in small stages

   a gradual improvement in health

2. not steep or abrupt

   a gradual slope

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noun

1. (often capital) Christianity

   1. an antiphon or group of several antiphons, usually from the Psalms, sung or recited immediately after the epistle at Mass

   2. a book of plainsong containing the words and music of the parts of the Mass that are sung by the cantors and choir

Related Words

See slow.

Other Word Forms

• gradually adverb
• gradualness noun
• ungradual adjective

Etymology

Origin of gradual

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduālis “pertaining to steps,” graduāle the part of the service sung as the choir stood on the altar steps, equivalent to Latin gradu(s) “step,” + -ālis adjective suffix; see grade, -al ¹

Explanation

Use the adjective gradual to describe something that happens slowly, bit by bit, like the gradual decrease in the amount of daylight in winter. Gradual can also apply to the gentle slope of landforms like hills. A gradual incline seems to slowly rise — you may not even realize you're walking up such a hill. Gradual comes from the Latin word gradus, which means "step." Step by step, a gradual hill climbs, while a steep hill seems to leap up into the air.

Example Sentences

Sheinbaum has trod carefully in her gradual effort to rebuild bilateral relations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Other than a brief jump in 2020, Avanos stock had been on a gradual decline since September 2018, when it hit a record closing high of $72.65.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

There has been a gradual improvement in momentum over the past few weeks for EV players in the domestic market due to new model launches or de-stocking of some old models.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

As the Economist recently argued, that could mean a more gradual build-out of renewable power, allowing more time to invest in cheaper onshore wind and reform the electricity market.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The first half of 1943 brought crying spells, loneliness and the gradual realization of my faults and shortcomings, which were numerous and seemed even more so.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Related Words

• continuous
• creeping
• piecemeal
• progressive
• slow
• steady
• step-by-step