grad ‧ u ‧ a ‧ lly S3 W3 /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ BrE AmE adverb
slowly, over a long period of time OPP suddenly :
Jill gradually became aware of an awful smell.
Gradually, my ankle got better.
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THESAURUS
▪ slowly at a slow speed:
Large white clouds drifted slowly across the sky.
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The situation is slowly improving.
▪ gradually happening slowly over a period of time:
I practised every day, and gradually got better.
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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.
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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.
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The project seems to be moving at a snail’s pace.