That would allow younger defensemen to break in to the lineup gradually, the way White did two seasons ago.

Start by walking at a brisk pace, then gradually break into a slow jog.

He suffered jail terms and persecutions which gradually broke his health.

The other French ships gradually broke away from the action and moved off.

The next day, they gradually broke off the siege.

The visitor gradually broke into a smile, and sat down again.

In 1942 and 1943, he gradually broke this silence, but not to appease Roosevelt.

From this phase we see him gradually breaking away to a style of his own.

He gradually broke into the Lisbon-based club's first team, appearing in 19 top division games in his second season.

It advises that he break with old friends and subordinates gradually, in order to minimize resentment.