gradual

[graj-oo-uhl]

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

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

/ ˈɡrædjʊəl /

adjective

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

   a gradual improvement in health

2. not steep or abrupt

   a gradual slope

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

Other Word Forms

• gradually adverb
• gradualness noun
• ungradual adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gradual¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gradual¹

C16: from Medieval Latin graduālis relating to steps, from Latin gradus a step

Synonym Study

See slow.

Example Sentences

The ship washes ashore, coming to a gradual stop on the sand.

Read more on Literature

Since then, she has delivered recorded messages on social media, including about her gradual recovery after chemotherapy, but this has been the first speech since then to have been delivered in person.

Read more on BBC

But he expects “improvement to be gradual, especially as near-term macro headwinds continue.”

Read more on Barron's

Dallas Fed President Logan said modestly restrictive settings are appropriate unless there’s convincing evidence of inflation coming down faster or a more than gradual cooling in the labor market, the senior economist notes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What used to be a gradual drift into extremism has become a rapid slide, driven not by ideology alone but also by algorithms—code written to keep us engaged and enraged.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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