gradation
noun
gra·da·tion
grā-ˈdā-shən 
grə-
1
a
: a series forming successive stages
the gradations of evolutionary development
b
: a step or place in an ordered scale
2
: an advance by regular degrees
gradations of social progress
3
: a gradual passing from one tint or shade to another
4
: the act or process of grading
5
: ablaut
gradationally
adverb
Did you know?
In the Boy Scouts, gradations of rank move upward from Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout. A violin or a voice can produce gradations of musical pitch too small to appear in written music. In the 18th century Jonathan Swift could even write of "the several kinds and gradations of laughter, which ladies must daily practice by the looking-glass".
Examples of gradation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By introducing finer gradations and supporting 16-QAM with a 2/3 coding rate, Wi-Fi 8 ensures smoother transitions between speed tiers, ultimately enhancing overall transmission rates by 5%-30% and guaranteeing stable connectivity as users move.
—
Mark Vena, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Crombie often saw the birds form patterns and abstract shapes, their varying densities appearing like the subtle gradations of paint strokes.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025
When and where are Sacramento high school gradation ceremonies?
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2025
In their seminal work Moral Machines, Yale’s Wendell Wallach and Indiana University’s Colin Allen analyze different gradations of the ethical sensitivity of robots.
—Nayef Al-Rodhan, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2015
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Mark Vena, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Crombie often saw the birds form patterns and abstract shapes, their varying densities appearing like the subtle gradations of paint strokes.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025
When and where are Sacramento high school gradation ceremonies?
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2025
In their seminal work Moral Machines, Yale’s Wendell Wallach and Indiana University’s Colin Allen analyze different gradations of the ethical sensitivity of robots.
—Nayef Al-Rodhan, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2015
See All Example Sentences for gradation
Cite this Entry
“Gradation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gradation. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gradation
noun
gra·da·tion
grā-ˈdā-shən
grə-
1
a
: a series of grades
2
: the act or process of grading
gradationally
adverb
-ē
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