grad‧u‧a‧lly S3 W3 / ɡrædʒuəli / 副词

slowly, over a long period of time 反义词 suddenly :

Jill gradually became aware of an awful smell.

Gradually, my ankle got better.

THESAURUS

slowly at a slow speed : Large white clouds drifted slowly across the sky. | The situation is slowly improving.

gradually happening slowly over a period of time : I practised every day, and gradually got better. | 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. | 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. | The project seems to be moving at a snail’s pace.