Postupné

Postupné is a Czech adjective meaning gradual, incremental, or progressive. It is used to describe changes, developments, or processes that occur in stages rather than all at once. The base form is postupný; feminine is postupná; neuter is postupné, with other forms adapting to number and gender as in standard Czech adjective declension. The word is commonly found in both everyday language and technical or scientific contexts.

Etymology and related forms: Postupné comes from the noun postup, meaning progress or advance, combined with the adjectival suffix -ný. Related adverbial form is postupně, meaning “gradually” or “in stages.” Other related terms include postup (process of progress) and postupnost (sequence or progression).

Usage and examples: Postupné can describe a wide range of phenomena, such as a gradual increase in intensity, a staged implementation of a policy, or a slow development of a phenomenon. Examples include: “Postupné zvyšování teploty” (gradual increase of temperature) or “postupné zavedení reformy” (gradual introduction of reform). In contrast to immediate or sudden changes, postupné emphasizes a step-by-step or phased nature.

Synonyms and contrasts: In Czech, approximate synonyms include pomalý (slow) when describing speed, though not a perfect match for the procedural sense. The adverb form postupně is commonly used to modify verbs: “Teplotu zvyšovali postupně.”

See also: Postup, the noun for progress or advance, and postupnost, referring to progression or sequence. The word has cognates in related Slavic languages, such as Slovak postupný, with similar meanings.