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Gradual vs Immediate - What's the difference?

gradual | immediate |

As adjectives the difference between gradual and immediate

is that gradual is proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow while immediate is happening right away, instantly, with no delay.

As a noun gradual

is an antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.

gradual

English

Alternative forms

* graduall (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow.
  • a gradual''' increase of knowledge; a '''gradual decline
  • * Milton
  • Creatures animate with gradual life / Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Antonyms

    * sudden * abrupt

    Derived terms

    * gradually

    See also

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Roman Catholic Church) An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.
  • (Roman Catholic Church) A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.
  • immediate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Happening right away, instantly, with no delay.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Assemble we immediate council.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.}}
  • Very close; direct or adjacent.
  • * Shakespeare
  • You are the most immediate to our throne.
  • Manifestly true; requiring no argument.
  • embedded as part of the instruction itself, rather than stored elsewhere (such as a register or memory location)
  • Derived terms

    * immediately

    Anagrams

    * ----