gradually

American  

[graj-oo-uh-lee] / ˈgrædʒ u ə li /

adverb

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• ungradually adverb

Etymology

Origin of gradually

gradual ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

As colder Arctic air gradually extends southward across the UK on Friday and Saturday, sunshine will return for some.

From BBC

Baz gradually returned to the kitchen, starting with “comforting, tender and slow” meals like chicken bone broth and lentil soup.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Ukrainian leader has seen his approval ratings gradually dip from unprecedented levels at the beginning of the invasion nearly four years ago.

From Barron's

The beta version aims to test the service gradually before it launches commercially later this year, T-Mobile said.

From The Wall Street Journal

But manufacturers are likely to only gradually make the sizable investments required to transition to industrial robotics.

From Barron's

Related Words

• constantly
• continuously
• deliberately
• gently
• increasingly
• moderately
• progressively
• regularly
• steadily