gradual
Americanadjective
-
taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little.
gradual improvement in health.
- Antonyms:
- sudden
-
rising or descending at an even, moderate inclination.
a gradual slope.
- Synonyms:
- gentle
- Antonyms:
- precipitous
noun
adjective
-
occurring, developing, moving, etc, in small stages
a gradual improvement in health
-
not steep or abrupt
a gradual slope
noun
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; grade, -al 1
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.
Policymakers are likely to favor a gradual appreciation of the ringgit to tighten monetary conditions.
Dorsey explained in a social media post that he could either make gradual cuts over the next few years or rip the band-aid off now.
From Barron's
"It indicates a gradual downward curve in wholesale energy prices," he said.
From BBC
An output boost would signal the alliance is restarting the gradual rollback of voluntary cuts of around 1.65 million barrels a day originally set to remain in place through the end of 2026.
In 1799, New York had begun the gradual process of abolishing slavery.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
