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

In 1968, Mr. Reich published a sort of metaphorical guide to his early aesthetic in an article called “Music as a Gradual Process.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

"Gradual weight loss, slow dose escalation, and a focus on protein intake, exercise and strength training are key to healthier outcomes," says Baxi.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Gradual size decrease over time: The simulations also predicted the opposite of Cope's rule: species shrinking over time.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

Themes in Anadol’s work are further illustrated by Reich’s essay “Music as a Gradual Process.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2023

Gradual changes in the basic tempo are also common in music, though, and these have their own set of terms.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

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