Gradual
//ˈɡɹadʒuəl// adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.
- 2 (Roman Catholic Church) an antiphon (usually from the Book of Psalms) immediately after the epistle at Mass wordnet
- 3 A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.
Adjective
- 1 Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees
"a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline"
Adjective
- 1 proceeding in small stages wordnet
- 2 (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt wordnet
Example
More examples"Your English has made gradual progress."
Etymology
From Medieval Latin graduālis, from Latin gradus (“step”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-, *gʰredʰ- (“to walk, go”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌹𐌸𐍃 (griþs, “step, grade”), Bavarian Gritt (“step, stride”).
Related phrases
More for "gradual"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.