gradual

/ˈɡrædʒuəl/

adjective

  1. Happening slowly over a period of time, rather than suddenly.

    B1

    usually before a noun

    • "There has been a gradual improvement in her English."B1
    • "The gradual increase in prices has affected many families."B2
    • "The policy represents a gradual shift away from traditional methods."C1

Common mistakes

  • a gradually change→a gradual change

    Use the adjective gradual before a noun; use gradually to describe a verb.

Collocations

gradual changegradual increasegradual improvementgradual decline

Word family

graduallygradation