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 path to large-scale profits from business applications will be “gradual,” said Jordan Klein, an analyst on the trading desk at Mizuho Securities.

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Residents of Gabes, a city of around 400,000 people, have been campaigning for decades against the pollution from the plant, finally winning a promise from the government in 2017 to begin its gradual closure.

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Across the industry, the pace of change will be gradual, said McMillon.

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Last week, the company began a gradual restart of its operations, bringing some IT systems back online.

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According to official data, more than 10 million Moroccans out of a population of roughly 37 million have free health insurance as part of a gradual rollout of universal coverage launched in 2021.

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Related Words

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