postupném

Postupným is the instrumental singular form of the Czech and Slovak adjective postupný, meaning gradual or incremental. It describes a process, change, or action that unfolds in small steps or at a measured pace. In usage, it indicates the manner in which something happens and is often followed by nouns in the instrumental case, such as tempo, vývoj, or zvyšovanie.

Etymology and form: The adjective derives from the noun postup (progress, advancement) with the suffix -ný. The instrumental form postupným appears when the adjective modifies a noun in instrumental case, for example postupným tempem (with a gradual pace) or postupným vývojem (by gradual development).

Usage: Postupným is common in formal, academic, policy, and journalistic writing to describe gradual change, staged implementation, or progressive development. It conveys a sense of measured, stepwise progression and often contrasts with more general terms like pomalý (slow) or rychlý (fast). In Slovak, usage and forms are similar, with the same instrumental pattern, though some noun endings may differ.

Examples:

- Ekonomika se vyvíjí postupným tempem. (The economy is developing at a gradual pace.)

- Vláda zavedla reformy postupným zvyšováním platů. (The government implemented reforms by gradually increasing salaries.)

- Projekt postupným vývojem vedl ke zlepšení kvality. (The project, through gradual development, led to improved quality.)

See also: postupný, tempo, vývoj.