Gradually
Example: The empire gradually expanded its borders over several decades.
Definition
"Gradually" is an adverb describing a process or change that occurs slowly and steadily over time rather than suddenly or abruptly. It is often used to indicate that something happens in small increments, as in the example, 'The empire gradually expanded its borders over several decades.'
Etymology
The word "gradually" originates from the Latin word 'gradus,' meaning 'step.' It entered English through Old French and Middle English, reflecting the idea of proceeding step by step. Did you know? Its use emphasizes a slow, measured progression, much like climbing stairs one step at a time.
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"Gradually" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - History - (B1) - set 1", containing 204 commonly used words.
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