Graduated
/ˈɡrædʒuˌeɪtɪd/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo successfully complete a course of study at a school, college, or university.
/ˈɡrædʒuˌeɪt/
To complete a course of study and receive a diploma or degree.
He graduated from high school last year.
💡 Simply: Imagine you worked really hard in school for years, taking tests and doing homework. When you're done and you get your diploma, you've graduated! It's like finishing a big level in a video game and unlocking the next one.
👶 For kids: To finish school or college and get a certificate or degree.
More Examples
She is planning to graduate with a degree in engineering.
The ceremony was for the students who had just graduated.
How It's Used
"She graduated from university with honors."
"The students will graduate next spring."
To mark or divide into degrees, intervals, or steps.
/ˈɡrædʒuˌeɪt/
To arrange something in a series of steps or degrees.
The thermometer is graduated in Celsius.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a container and you want to measure how much liquid it holds. You can graduate the container by adding marks, or lines, to show how much it holds at different levels, like when you have a recipe for the kitchen.
👶 For kids: To put lines on something to show different amounts, like a measuring cup.
More Examples
The ruler was graduated to show the metric system.
The measuring cup is graduated with different volume markings.
How It's Used
"The ruler is graduated in millimeters."
"The measuring cylinder is graduated."
Idioms & expressions
graduation ceremony
A formal event where students receive their diplomas or degrees.
"The graduation ceremony was held in the stadium."
graduate school
A division of a university offering advanced programs.
"She is planning to go to graduate school after finishing college."
From Latin *graduatus*, past participle of *graduare* 'to take steps, to climb', from *gradus* 'step'. The word evolved to encompass the completion of a course of study.
The term originally related to degrees of measurement or progression before being adopted for academic completion in the 17th century.
Memory tip
Think of stepping up the academic ladder until you've reached the top and graduated.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: gradus