Gradual
Part of speech: noun
Definition: An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps. A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow; as, a gradual increase of knowledge; a gradual decline.
Example sentence: Changes which are slow and gradual can be hard to notice even if their ultimate impact is quite dramatic.
Stepwise
Part of speech: adverb
Definition: One step or stage at a time; step by step
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: One (small) step or stage at a time; piecemeal