Gradation Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Definition of gradation ; 2 · an advance by regular degrees ; 3 · a gradual passing from one tint or shade to another ; 4 · the act or process of grading ; 5 · ablaut. Login SignUp Hello, Games&Quizzes Thesaurus WordoftheDay Features BuyingGuide M-WBooks JoinMWU MyWordsMyWords ViewRecents Account LogOut gradation noun SaveWord gra·​da·​tion |\grā-ˈdā-shən ,grə-\ Definitionofgradation 1a :aseriesformingsuccessivestages thegradationsofevolutionarydevelopment b :asteporplaceinanorderedscale 2 :anadvancebyregulardegrees gradationsofsocialprogress 3 :agradualpassingfromonetintorshadetoanother 4 :theactorprocessofgrading 5 :ablaut OtherWordsfromgradation Didyouknow? MoreExampleSentences LearnMoreAboutgradation OtherWordsfromgradation gradational \ grā-​ˈdā-​shnəl ,-​shə-​nᵊl,grə-​ \ adjective gradationally adverb Didyouknow? IntheBoyScouts,gradationsofrankmoveupwardfromTenderfoottoEagleScout.Aviolinoravoicecanproducegradationsofmusicalpitchtoosmalltoappearinwrittenmusic.Inthe18thcenturyJonathanSwiftcouldevenwriteof"theseveralkindsandgradationsoflaughter,whichladiesmustdailypracticebythelooking-glass". ExamplesofgradationinaSentence RecentExamplesontheWeb Tomyeyes,mostoftheacrobats’repetitionsofthesameswingsandflipslookedidentical,butRamancouldseeeverygradationofweight,force,andgrip. — MegBernhard,TheNewYorker,5Feb.2022 Creativeenergywhirls,ascontemporaryartistRISKandmusicianDaveNavarrocollaborateinasemi-outdoorstudiospace,workingquicklyyetpainstakinglytoplacestencils,layermotifs,andbuildgradationwithanarrayofspraypaints. — NatashaGural,Forbes,22Oct.2021 FalsePositivehasalotgoingforit:Glaser,whobroughtsuchmarvelousdeadpancharmtoBroadCity,makesahugelysympatheticmom-to-be,shiftingthrougheverybelievablegradationofjoyandoutrightterroratthethoughtofwhatawaitsher. — StephanieZacharek,Time,25June2021 Formonolidslikemine,Makisuggeststryingasimplesingle-tonegradation,layeringadarkershadowalongthelashlineandfadingitupward. — MonicaKim,Vogue,28May2021 Theredpetalshavelushnessandgradationofredcolorthatiscontrastedwithyellowpistilscompletedwithadetailedlacquertechnique. — AnthonyDemarco,Forbes,19May2021 Therearehairaccessories—araredesignforHarryWinston—aswellasrings,andapairofcombinationchandelier/earclimberearringswithgemssetinagradationofcolors. — CarolBesler,RobbReport,17May2021 Thisgradationfedintothebasicconceptofthewholesiteasalandscapethatisformal,theninformalandfinallypastoral. — AdrianHiggins,WashingtonPost,7Apr.2021 Nogradationexistsbetweenthetwo:Youareborneitheraknowledge-acquiringintellectualorasensation-seekingnormal. — WashingtonPost,24Mar.2021 SeeMore Theseexamplesentencesareselectedautomaticallyfromvariousonlinenewssourcestoreflectcurrentusageoftheword'gradation.'ViewsexpressedintheexamplesdonotrepresenttheopinionofMerriam-Websteroritseditors.Sendusfeedback. FirstKnownUseofgradation 1549,inthemeaningdefinedatsense1a HistoryandEtymologyforgradation seegradeentry1 LearnMoreAboutgradation Sharegradation PosttheDefinitionofgradationtoFacebook SharetheDefinitionofgradationonTwitter TimeTravelerforgradation Thefirstknownuseofgradationwas in1549 Seemorewordsfromthesameyear DictionaryEntriesNeargradation gradate gradation gradatory SeeMoreNearbyEntries  Statisticsforgradation Look-upPopularity CitethisEntry “Gradation.”Merriam-Webster.comDictionary,Merriam-Webster,https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gradation.Accessed23Jul.2022. Style:MLA MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster MorefromMerriam-Websterongradation Nglish:TranslationofgradationforSpanishSpeakers BritannicaEnglish:TranslationofgradationforArabicSpeakers WORDOFTHEDAY conscientious SeeDefinitionsandExamples» GetWordoftheDaydailyemail! TestYourVocabulary WhichWordDoesNotBelong? Whichofthesewordsdoesnotmean"nonsense"? sagacity folderol bunkum blatherskite Testyourknowledge-andmaybelearnsomethingalongtheway. TAKETHEQUIZ Adailychallengeforcrosswordfanatics. TAKETHEQUIZ SubscribetoAmerica'slargestdictionaryandgetthousandsmoredefinitionsandadvancedsearch—adfree! Merriam-Websterunabridged WordsatPlay 'Dunderhead'andOther‘Nicer’WaystoSayStupid Asillustratedbysomeverysmartpups 10WordsfromPlaceNames Bikini,bourbon,andbadmintonwereplacesfirst 'Pride':TheWordThatWentFromVicetoStrength DoyoutakeprideinPride? WhenWereWordsFirstUsed? Lookupanyyeartofindout AsktheEditors Literally Howtouseawordthat(literally)drivessomepe... 'AllIntensivePurposes'or'AllIntentsandPurposes'? We'reintentonclearingitup Layvs.Lie EditorEmilyBrewsterclarifiesthedifference. HotMess "Thepublicisahotmess" WordGames FashionableWords Avocabquizwithpanache Takethequiz NameEvenMoreColors MorethanROYGBIV Takethequiz TrueorFalse? Testyourknowledge-andmaybelearnsomethinga... Takethequiz SpellingBeeQuiz CanyououtdopastwinnersoftheNationalSpelli... Takethequiz