As a way of leading gradually into a certain subject.

"I think this will gradually lead to some kind of direct interaction between the two countries," he said.

Then the disease gradually leads to more serious problems like the inability to find words.

Other factors, including an increase in the population of adults without children, have gradually led to more attention and money being spent on pets.

This should gradually lead to some convergence across Europe on the quality and safety of care.

He had thought he would be able to lead into this more gradually, but that wasn't the way things were working out.

The county borders thus gradually led to a local provincial identity.

I was gradually led into it, my education slow, piecemeal.

Such experiences were gradually leading me from fantasy to archaeology.

The preamble spoke of "a process leading gradually to a Union with a federal goal."