noun phrase · academic
gradual increase
/ˈɡrædʒuəl ɪnˈkriːs/GRAD·u·al IN·crease
a slow and steady rise over a period of time
Examples
“The chart shows a gradual increase in renewable energy use from 2000 to 2015.”
“There was a gradual increase in average temperatures over the decade.”
“A gradual increase of 2% per year is expected.”
Band 8 sentence
“The data indicates a gradual increase in household internet access across the ten-year span.”
Collocations
- a gradual increase in (something)
- increase gradually
Word family
Common mistakes
slowly increase→gradual increase / increase gradually
increase slowly to 10%→increase by 10% gradually / gradually increase to 10%
Say it for a higher band
5rise slowly→6increase gradually→7+gradual increase
Synonyms
steady rise
Easily confused
steady rise
“There was a gradual increase in smartphone ownership over the period.”
Related words
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In Rate of change
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