# gradual

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɡɹadʒuəl/ · frequency rank #11,710

## Definitions
1. Proceeding or advancing by small, slow, regular steps or degrees

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin graduālis, from Latin gradus (“step”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰradʰ-, *gʰredʰ- (“to walk, go”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌹𐌸𐍃 (griþs, “step, grade”), Bavarian Gritt (“step, stride”).

## Easily confused with
- **graduate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gradual-vs-graduate)
- **gradually** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gradual-vs-gradually)

## Common misspellings (10)
`gardual`, `ggradual`, `gradaul`, `graddual`, `graduall`, `gradula`, `graudal`, `grdaual`, `grradual`, `rgadual`

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