Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

gradually

/ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəli/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.21 in modern English

Syllables: grad-u-al-ly
IPA: /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəli/

14

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In a gradual manner; making slow progress; slowly.

adv

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"The most likely conclusion, the researchers say, is that the Levallois method was not taken to Eurasia by African migrants, but evolved there gradually and independently."
"The instrument of this dumbing down in Nineteen Eighty-Four was Newspeak, the official language of the English Socialist Party (Ingsoc). Newspeak was a sort of Totalitarian Esperanto that sought gradually to diminish the range of what was thinkable by eliminating, contracting and manufacturing words."
"Horns, upon the due accession of Moisture, doth gradually become Soft."

Etymology

Etymology tree English gradual Middle English -ly English -ly English gradually From gradual + -ly.

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more gradually (comparative) most gradually (superlative)

Phrases

gradually typed

Frequently Paired Words

consecutively sequentially seriatim slow

Synonyms

ponderously sluggishly incrementally step by step bit by bit by degrees piecemeal by inches continually footmeal inch by inch gradatim

Antonyms

abruptly suddenly suddently

Questions

How do you pronounce gradually?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəli/.
What does gradually mean?: In a gradual manner; making slow progress; slowly.
Where does gradually come from?: Etymology tree English gradual Middle English -ly English -ly English gradually From gradual + -ly.

How to pronounce gradually

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “gradually”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəli/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “gradually”.
Repeat and practice — Say “gradually” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.