In a gradual manner; making slow progress; slowly.
"The snow melted gradually over the course of several warm days."
In plain English: Gradually means something happens slowly over time instead of all at once.
"The sun gradually set behind the hills, casting long shadows across the field."
Usage: Use gradually to describe actions that happen in small, steady steps over time rather than all at once. It is the preferred adverb when you want to emphasize a smooth transition between two states or conditions.
The word gradually comes from combining the adjective gradual with the suffix -ly to form an adverb. It entered English as a straightforward construction meaning something done step by step or over time.