graduallygrad‧u‧a‧lly /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ ●●● S3 W3 adverb 
Examples
Jill gradually became aware of an awful smell. Gradually, my ankle got better.► see thesaurus at slowly
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- As the weeks passed, I gradually accepted the idea of him leaving.
- Most patients gradually develop a resistance to the drug.
- She gradually got sicker and sicker.
- The climate is gradually becoming drier and warmer.
- It began to slide toward the gradually opening door.
- Some patients experience a slow decline in their health as the effectiveness of the drugs gradually decreases.
- The first dilemma has been discussed: the managers gradually learned that their subordinates varied extensively in skill and motivation.
- Then gradually twitches of life manifested themselves and it is now as well as can be expected.
- These cost reductions occurred gradually over a six-year period.
THESAURUS► slowly
Collocations at a slow speed: · Large white clouds drifted slowly across the sky.· The situation is slowly improving.
► gradually happening slowly over a period of time: · I practised every day, and gradually got better.· Many of our forests are gradually disappearing.
► little by little/bit by bit slowly, in a series of small amounts or stages: · Add the olive oil, little by little.· It’s best to do the work bit by bit.
► at a snail’s pace extremely slowly, especially when this is annoying: · Traffic was moving at a snail’s pace.· The project seems to be moving at a snail’s pace.
Longman Language Activatorhappening or changing slowly► slow · She's making a slow recovery after her illness.· Rebuilding the country's economy is likely to be a long, slow process.· For the first few months that I was taking lessons, my progress was extremely slow.
► slowly · The situation is slowly improving.· Slowly prices began to fall.· Their relationship has developed slowly, but they now consider each other close friends.
► gradually slowly over a period of time: · The climate is gradually becoming drier and warmer.· As the weeks passed, I gradually accepted the idea of him leaving.· Most patients gradually develop a resistance to the drug.
► gradual happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: · I had noticed a gradual improvement in her written work.· The chart showed a gradual rise in his temperature over the previous eight hours.· Because the cell destruction is gradual, a victim's pancreas can function normally for years.
► little by little/bit by bit happening or done slowly in a series of small amounts or stages - use this especially about something that is gradually improving: · Little by little, Greg's health improved.· Bit by bit, the dogs got used to their new surroundings.· Then add the olive oil, little by little, beating continuously until the sauce thickens.
► slowly but surely if something, especially an improvement in something, happens slowly but surely , it happens slowly and steadily until it is completed: · Slowly but surely, the company is becoming successful again.· She's getting better, slowly but surely.
► by degrees happening, developing, or changing very slowly, through a series of small changes that may be difficult to notice: · By degrees, little children grow less dependent on their parents.· The storm intensified by degrees until the rain was pouring down.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► slowly/gradually change
slowly, over a long period of time OPP suddenly: · Things are gradually changing.
► gradually gain something· He is gradually gaining confidence in his own abilities.
► gradually reduce· The aim is to gradually reduce the number of troops in the area.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB► add· Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then gradually add the caster sugar.· Mix until smooth and gradually add milk and tomatoes.· Make a well in the dry ingredients and gradually add butter and sugar mixture.· In a large bowl, beat together remaining sugar with butter until smooth. Gradually add next five ingredients.· Stir in the flour then gradually add the milk.· In another bowl mix together next 7 ingredients; while still beating, gradually add flour mixture and water.· Cook the roux paste for a few seconds, then gradually add the milk.· When fluffy, gradually add remaining ingredients and mix well.
► become· Both books, written out of what had gradually become a burning ambition, were however nothing more than starters.· Although retaining its original basis, religion was gradually becoming more complex.· Raving and thrashing about, the victim becomes gradually weaker and, if lucky, may eventually become unconscious.· She was gradually becoming more assertive and less escapist with friends and in her overall attitude toward daily events.· She became gradually aware of an awful stench.· The day which since the rain had gradually become hot was now heavy and still and sultry.· But the differences between this and other homes gradually becomes apparent.· The addition of learning skills and the intelligent construction of knowledge through exploration gradually becomes a predominant feature of the transactional style.
► begin· Yet, I gradually began to develop quite an angry feeling against my father.· Then he gradually began to make a habit of stopping by each afternoon and helping Dorothy with different tasks.· If you were to lift that weight several times, you would find that the muscle gradually began to ache.· As a result, plant productivity gradually began to decline, along with overall product quality and employee morale.· Since 1991, however, officials have begun gradually opening up the economy to foreign imports and investment.· But Jo spoke so passionately to so many people that the sister-parish relationship gradually began to gather support.· Her head gradually began to clear.· The home side gradually began to look interested, with the pace of Paul Bennett playing a vital part on the flank.
► build· Karpov is gradually building up the kind of position he likes with two bishops and a potentially menacing mass of central pawns.· Haider and his followers have been gradually building their support at the ballot box for the past decade.· Instead they form squelchy peat, which gradually builds up on the surface.· As he walked behind the plough he had time to think of the easy relationship that had gradually built up between them.· But start in small ways and gradually build up.· In this way a good freelance list can be gradually built up.· It also expects it to build gradually over the next two quarters and then start doing something serious in the fall.
► change· The fill story of how this attitude has gradually changed can not be told here.· Through Wendt, Hecht gradually changed her attitude about television.· Life therefore became a form of chemical interaction, with replicators able to change gradually through the mechanics of evolution.· But the attitude of the state gradually changed.· It may change gradually over time, as indeed may the level of damages generally.· As children develop, Piaget found that their concepts of justice change gradually.· While the topography has remained basically unaltered for millions of years, the ecology has gradually changed.· This fermentation gradually changes the flavor of the dough as well as the chemistry among all of the ingredients.
► come· Of course it only gradually came to mean all this to me through the succeeding years, through my memory of it.· As reports gradually came in from the departments, it appeared that a majority were in favor of federalism.· But the visitors gradually came into the game, and it was the home fans who fell quiet first.· Midway through that period she sailed for Philadelphia to be with Quakers and gradually came to desire the ministry.· The judgement of the dead gradually came under the authority of Osiris, reaching its developed form by the New Kingdom.· As the morning light appears, the gland reduces its output, allowing the body to gradually come back to life.· It came and sniffed around the edges, and gradually came all the way out.· We treasured one game in particular, though my love for it came gradually.
► decrease· The laxative dose was gradually decreased after two to three months to a dose that maintained one bowel movement daily.· Some patients experience a slow decline in their health as the effectiveness of the drugs gradually decreases.· Under such circumstances the frequency with which you visited the pub would be likely to decrease gradually over time.· The sum needed to cover the gap would gradually decrease each year as proceeds from parental trust funds phase into the system.· In the other group, they gradually decreased the lighting level one foot candle at the time.
► develop· With practice, you will gradually develop your own critical faculties and become more self-critical.· Insects gradually developed resistance to most of the major pesticides introduced in the years since.· In Britain the fashion for home ownership has developed gradually over three or four decades.· In quest of mass circulation and advertising support, the major city newspapers gradually developed a tradition of political and journalistic independence.· Alongside the voluntary hospitals there had gradually developed a state-provided hospital sector.· A few cases develop gradually over time.· He conducted research into how artefacts gradually develop over a period of time, the study of which is known as typology.· It develops gradually, acquiring greater legal protection by stages as the fetus gains viability.
► disappear· After eradication of H pylori, duodenal ulcers do not usually recur and the associated chronic gastritis gradually disappears.· After the healing winds of laughter had blown through her feelings in this area, the tension and self-contempt gradually disappeared.· In fact, the chemicals are gradually disappearing, making it harder to pinpoint the extent of the catastrophe.· It is a rich heritage gradually disappearing as Aborigines become urbanized, Europeanized and victimized.· If income inequalities were gradually disappearing this would be strong evidence that class divisions were weakening.· Unless replenished, many beaches gradually disappear as their sand is carried away into deep water.· But, like the ancient infrastructure, the tanya are gradually disappearing.
► emerge· The effects of these changes have been emerging gradually.· Smith, eventually sworn into office, gradually emerged as a leader.· The dependency of the old person may emerge gradually with increasing frailty or suddenly, as after a stroke.· The shape of things to come only emerged gradually as they unfolded locally at the administrative level.· Only through such discussions can we begin to probe the ways in which a satisfying and total response gradually emerges.· What gradually emerged was a project that is still making waves in economics.· Although earlier crude categories survive in some influential textbooks on ageing, a subtler stance has gradually emerged from this controversy.
► erode· As science had gradually eroded the freedom of time, so it had eroded the freedom of belief.· A series of predictable actions and reactions gradually erodes their adaptive resources.· We can never be satisfied, gradually eroding our self-esteem and confidence further.· We hope our health workers will gradually erode the fabric of their deception.· These stylistic differences have gradually eroded over the years, and today regional divisions have all but disappeared.
► evolve· This situation has only evolved gradually.· Thus the constitution can evolve gradually.· For about two years, this ability has been gradually evolving from sensorimotor behaviors.· The custom gradually evolved, so that only a token or emblem of life came to be needed.· According to another speculation, vocal language gradually evolved from spontaneous cries of pain, pleasure, or other emotions.· The helm evolved gradually from the conical Norman helmet, ear flaps being added.· It starts as a dull ache that gradually evolves into a severe throbbing pain, centering in the frontal and temporal regions.
► extend· The horizons are gradually extended to include playgroup supervisors and classmates.· The goal is to run faster for short distances and then gradually extend the distance.· This principle was gradually extended in the nineteenth century but never reached all areas of state activity.
► fade· The Balfourites did gradually fade from the scene.· The hills are wrapped in a shawl of pink light gradually fading into dusk.
► fall· Fortunately, the number of these old-fashioned classes seems to be gradually falling.· StarNet's commitment to community gradually fell away.· Buildings clearly fell gradually into disrepair, while the fourth-century mausoleum points to a shift in emphasis in at least one area.· Have the lazy girl watch him from an open window for days and gradually fall in love with him.· Following the decline of the Stockton to Darlington railway, the station gradually fell into disrepair and was repeatedly vandalised.· The art of the Minoan seal cutters, like other aspects of the culture, was falling gradually into decay.· I realised the truth when I became close to a friend of a friend and gradually fell in love with her.
► get· In the shadow of Wenlock Edge it doesn't really dawn, it just gets gradually lighter around us.· But the innocence of first impression gives way as one gradually gets nearer.· The voices followed them, gradually getting louder; then, not so gradually, getting louder still.· The screen remains blank and the audience gradually gets the message.· I have a week or 10 days off and then gradually get back into it.· All your efforts and thoughts gradually get turned toward the illness and the treatment.· He may shadow them for two weeks, gradually getting closer and closer.· She was over it, and gradually getting back to her old self.
► grow· Private ownership would grow gradually, with small firms multiplying even as big ones stayed in state hands.· Grandmother implies that he won her over by his cheerful confidence, so that an understanding gradually grew up between them.· Parapets gradually grew lower and lower until the trench became little deeper than a roadside ditch.· As it grew gradually nearer, and larger, they soon found it towering over them - a mighty steel fortress.· The storm had been growing gradually all day.· Audiences, despite the rejuvenation in the West End, are gradually growing older.· Behind the shingle formation Romney Marsh gradually grew up and completely filled the former bay.
► improve· That was back in the early 1600s and things had been improving gradually ever since.· We worked together on gradually improving her diet.· Service quality was still a problem, but gradually improving.· Start in class by playing in your own instinctive style and gradually improve and fill it out.· The weather will gradually improve and by early afternoon the sun will be shining practically everywhere.· As the economic climate gradually improves, this process will be accelerated through an effective partnership between the public and private sectors.
► increase· These don't have to be permanent measures, just gentle ways of gradually increasing individual confidence.· Q: Over the past several weeks my husband noticed gradually increased swelling in his stomach.· He was then able to start taking fluids by mouth in gradually increasing amounts.· Therefore, these drugs should be initiated at low dosages and gradually increased.· The best way is to start with a few vegetarian meals a week and gradually increase the number.· With an electric mixer, gradually increase to high speed to beat butter until creamy.· Females tend to remain in their natal units, which thereby increase gradually in size.· Start as softly as possible and gradually increase in intensity until most students indicate they can hear it.
► introduce· The second phase was to be introduced gradually.· Moby should be gradually introduced to as much of life as possible!· The first two levels of Fanfare concentrate on developing listening and speaking skills, while reading and writing are introduced gradually.· Not only that, but 76% are actually doing something about it and gradually introducing more healthy foods into their diets.· Care management is being introduced gradually and is focusing on those who are particularly vulnerable or need a wide range of services.· Early indications are that Britain's system X, which Telecom is gradually introducing is not particularly favoured.· Take one juicy Wilkinson Sword League Cup opponent, gradually introduce a false sense of security - then carve up.· Oral fluids are introduced gradually until a normal level is reached. 4 Once bowel function returns diet is gradually re-introduced.
► learn· I heard you gradually learn to speak again; and I saw you take your first steps, shaky as they were.· The first dilemma has been discussed: the managers gradually learned that their subordinates varied extensively in skill and motivation.· And she gradually learned who among her medical colleagues on the island was willing to take referrals from her.· Claire began to feel more secure and gradually learned new ways to handle her own anger.· Pups suckle for three to four weeks before gradually learning to go their own way.· Louisa gradually learned to attach colors and images to each element in a story.· It hasn't learned this behaviour; it was born with it, though it gradually learns the finer points.· By a long process the child gradually learns and uses an increasing vocabulary.
► lose· Gorbad's wound causes him to become weaker and weaker, until the Waaagh gradually loses impetus.· Truman was so angry that he impounded the first funds, but he gradually lost interest in the whole affair.· The John Birchers may still be powerful, but they're gradually losing credibility.· But even the best wear out after repeated power outages and gradually lose their capacity to protect your equipment.· He underwent five major operations and gradually lost the ability to speak.· Either by gradually losing their pumping capacity or by sudden seizure, they cause much disease and some heroic surgical intervention.
► move· The various components of the mixture separate as they gradually move down the column.· The government forecasts its budget will gradually move into balance by 1998 from a 1994 deficit of 10. 4 billion kronor.· During the 30 seconds they would begin together, gradually move apart and then merge together again.· In the following days and weeks, she could gradually move into the next room while you talk to her and cook.· The worst-case scenario for the insurers is a slow-moving front over the upper Thames that gradually moves over London.· This is evidence of a transgression, meaning that as the Bright Angel Shale was being deposited the sea gradually moved landward.· Old priorities gradually move down the list while new ones surge forward.· Again a mobile unit will be important soas to be able to gradually move through the woodland.
► reduce· He was advised that the insurance company involved had been gradually reducing its terminal bonus rates.· The heretofore brilliant, often blinding light of classical culture was gradually reduced to a pitiful flicker.· Instead, Micron is working with road-legal silencers and gradually reducing their baffling.· Under the contract, his salary would be reduced gradually until it reached the pay of similar tenured professors.· This torque will gradually reduce the axial spin rate of M until it too is in synchronous rotation.· In the beginning, he tried for sequences of forty-five minutes each, then gradually reduced them to thirty minutes.· The amount of caffeine should be reduced gradually, over a period of two to three weeks, to minimize withdrawal reactions.
► replace· In telecommunications, optical fibres made of glass will gradually replace the traditional copper cables in new equipment.· Amtrak is gradually replacing those with newer locomotives that carry fuel tanks inside the main frame.· Here the dollar gradually replaces the national currency as a reserve value, means of payment and unit of account.· When lost-wax casting came in, tin-bronze was used but it was gradually replaced by zinc-brass.· The electric signalling bells did not give satisfaction and were gradually replaced by cord operated bells.· Some are nurtured into workers themselves, who gradually replace the original species in the nest.· These provisions will be replaced gradually by new regulations and approved codes of practice.
► rise· In the Allegretto the music begins in the sombre low register and gradually rises through the octaves.· Spending for air-traffic control and the Coast Guard would rise gradually.· Household expenditure rose gradually from about £13,000 perannum in 1509 to some £25,000 perannum in the late 1530s.· But history is against these reactionaries, and the South is gradually rising above Confederate nostalgia.· As the person gets nearer and nearer to the supermarket so their level of anxiety may be gradually rising in anticipation of difficulty.· Como was defeated, but gradually rose again to prominence.· It gradually rose to my left, but remained level ahead as far as distant, hazy mountains.· This figure rose gradually to over 1,000,000 by the turn of the century.
► shift· The emphasis shifted gradually back to reform.· Typically in a declining market, prices gradually shift from contract levels to the spot prices, traders said.· The focus of beauty gradually shifts from the physical body to the inner nature.· Despite such exceptions, the burden of outcry gradually shifted to people whose religion was not confined in the churches.· New words are coined or borrowed or made out of combined parts from existing words; the meanings of old words gradually shift.· Over time, this range of behavior can gradually shift to higher and higher levels.· It certainly changes: mountains, rivers, glaciers and coastlines gradually shift.
► spread· Later generations gradually spread from the South to build new glasshouses on the Midland and Northern coalfields.· The institutions of manufacturing capitalism gradually spread worldwide.· These showers will gradually spread east and some may become thundery.
► take· In London he gradually took over the Underground system and came to control every line except the Metropolitan.· As I gazed on this incongruous tableau, however, the scene gradually took on a more sinister aspect.· She had tried, but the rehearsals had gradually taken on the menace of trials of endurance.· These real and more genuine emotions will gradually take over the place of the former all. embracing negative ones.· Characteristic is a reluctance to admit the quantity consumed, drinking secretly alone, and taking gradually increasing amounts.· Suddenly a new aspect appears beyond the obvious and very gradually takes form.· These C2s are getting very clever, gradually taking over.· But muddy-looking patches where the local equivalent of body filler had been exuberantly plastered on were gradually taking over.
► turn· Spitzer produces his drawings in a darkroom by applying a titanium mixture on to parchment, which gradually turns black in daylight.· Watching something two-dimensional gradually turn into something three-dimensional.· Even more alarming is the feeling that the West End stage is gradually turning into a repository for old Hollywood movies.· As those technologies filter into Solaris, the operating system will gradually turn into Spring.
Jill gradually became aware of an awful smell. Gradually, my ankle got better.► see thesaurus at slowly