# graded

/ˈɡɹeɪdəd/ (US) · /ɡɹˈeɪdɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/graded
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. arranged by level

adjective · CEFR B1

organized into levels of difficulty, quality, or size.

For teachers: arranged in a series or scale according to quality, rank, or difficulty.

- The teacher gave the students graded readers that matched their reading levels.
- The language school uses a system of graded assessments to ensure that students are placed in classes appropriate to their current proficiency.

### 2. physically leveled

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

made flat or smooth, usually for a road or building.

For teachers: referring to a surface that has been leveled or smoothed, typically by heavy machinery.

- The workers prepared the graded surface before they started laying the new road.
- The construction crew ensured the site was properly graded to prevent water from pooling near the foundation of the new library.

### 3. changing in intensity

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

changing slowly from one level or color to another.

For teachers: forming a series that increases or decreases in intensity or quality.

- The experiment showed a graded response to the different amounts of medicine.
- The study observed a graded transition in soil composition as the elevation increased toward the mountain peak.

## Examples

- The teacher uses graded readers to help students improve their English.
- The language school provides graded materials so that students can progress from beginner to advanced levels at their own pace.
- The architect designed a series of graded terraces to manage the steep incline of the hillside while providing flat areas for the garden.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.