# gradual vs graduate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### gradual
*adjective · IPA /ˈɡɹadʒuəl/ · frequency rank #11,710*
Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees

### graduate
*noun · IPA /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuət/ · frequency rank #3,000*
A person who is recognized by a university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gradual-vs-graduate