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.

Gradually, the spiritual significance of the Santseo tree began to fade.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Gradually, custom chips from the likes of Google—made in collaboration with Broadcom—began to make inroads.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Gradually he realizes he’s been sent on a mission to figure out why the sun is dimming and how to stop it.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Gradually, China’s supply chain is becoming less resilient.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026

Gradually, when we returned from our adventures, Mother stopped asking us where we had been.

From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat

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