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

The agency also noted that people were retiring later in Germany, which has a population of almost 84 million, as the statutory retirement age rises gradually to 67 by 2029.

From Barron's

Swanson gradually adjusted to the environment, so unlike the volcanoes he was used to in Hawaii.

From Literature

This administration is not the first to use AI; federal agencies have been gradually stitching the technology into their work for years, including to translate documents, analyze data and categorize public comments, among other uses.

From Salon

He urged member states to keep gradually increasing their membership fees, to reduce the WHO's reliance on voluntary contributions.

From Barron's

While punishing US aid cuts in 2025 were partially reversed, concerns about donor dependence persist, including reliance on host India and how this intersects with New Delhi's relationship with China -- once icy, now gradually easing.

From Barron's

Related Words

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