# graduated

/ˈɡɹædʒəˌweɪtɪd/ (US) · /ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/graduated
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. having a degree

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a person who has successfully finished a university degree.

For teachers: pertaining to a person who has been awarded an academic degree or has completed a specific level of professional training.

- The company is looking for graduated engineers with at least two years of experience.
- The newly graduated nurses were assigned to the emergency ward under the supervision of senior staff members.

### 3. marked with measurements

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

having lines or marks on it to show measurements, like a ruler or a measuring cup.

For teachers: marked with degrees or other units of measurement for use in precise calculation or volume assessment.

- Use a graduated cylinder to measure exactly 50ml of water for the experiment.
- The technician carefully poured the reagent into a graduated beaker to ensure the concentration remained within the specified safety limits.

### 4. arranged in levels

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

arranged in steps or levels, often where the amount or difficulty increases.

For teachers: arranged in a series of stages, levels, or degrees of intensity.

- The country has a graduated tax system where people who earn more pay a higher rate.
- The government introduced a graduated response to the energy crisis, starting with voluntary reductions before moving to mandatory limits.

Usage: Often used in economic or administrative contexts to describe 'graduated taxes' or 'graduated scales'.

## Examples

- She will graduate from university next summer.
- After four years of hard work, he finally graduated with honors in mechanical engineering.
- The university graduated over five thousand students during the spring commencement ceremony, marking a record high for the institution.

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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.