1. happening or changing slowly over a period of time

1. a hymn sung between the epistle and gospel in a church service
Usage: liturgical

Examples

• The gradual increase in temperature melted the snow slowly.
• She made gradual improvements to her writing skills.
• The company implemented gradual changes to avoid disrupting operations.
• His gradual recovery from the injury took several months.
• The gradual decline in sales worried the management team.
• The choir sang the gradual before the gospel reading.