gradualadjective
uk/ˈɡrædʒ.u.əl/us/ˈɡrædʒ.u.əl/B2 happening or changing slowly over a long period of time or distance:
There has been a gradual improvement in our sales figures over the last two years.
As you go further south, you will notice a gradual change of climate.
More examples
- Her conversion to Buddhism/Islam was a very gradual process.
- There has been a gradual degeneration of the judicial system in the last few years.
- He suffered a gradual loss of memory.
- There is a gradual build-up of suspense throughout the film, until it comes to an unexpected ending.
- He lamented the gradual disintegration of family values.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Slow and moving slowly
- at a snail's pace idiom
- by and by idiom
- by degrees idiom
- claw your way (somewhere) idiom
- clunky
- drift
- float
- in ones and twos idiom
- inch by inch idiom
- infiltrate
- infiltration
- labour
- lag
- mill
- sluggish
- snail
- steadily
- steady
- straggle
- struggle
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