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gress/grad

ɡres / ɡræd

Graduating and getting aggressive are the same step

The picture A single step taken with one foot. Forward it is progress; one stair at a time it is gradual; straight at another person it turns into aggression. Step forward and it is pro-gress; step back and it is re-gress — same step, opposite direction.

Word roots

Where the picture shows up in gress/grad

  1. A step forward

    We're making good progress on the report.

    wɪr ˈmeɪkɪŋ ɡʊd ˈprɑːɡres ɒn ðə rɪˈpɔːrt

    We're getting on well with the report.

    A few footprints marching forward across the report.

  2. One stair at a time

    The pain went away gradually.

    ðə peɪn went əˈweɪ ˈɡrædʒuəli

    The pain eased off little by little.

    Pain walking down one stair at a time until it is gone.

    grad is a stair — not one leap, but step after step.

  3. Walking off the last stair

    She will graduate next spring.

    ʃiː wɪl ˈɡrædʒueɪt nekst sprɪŋ

    She finishes school next spring.

    Walking off the last stair and out through the school door.

  4. Stepping right at someone

    Don't be aggressive with the customers.

    doʊnt biː əˈɡresɪv wɪð ðə ˈkʌstəmərz

    Don't push the customers so hard.

    A foot planted one big step too close to the customer's face.

    ad (toward) + gress (step): step hard toward someone and it reads as attack.

  5. Moved up a step

    Please upgrade the app before Monday.

    pliːz ˈʌpɡreɪd ðiː æp bɪˈfɔːr ˈmʌndeɪ

    Please update the app before Monday.

    The app stepping up onto the next stair.

All of it in one picture

gress and grad are one step taken. Step forward and the work moves on; take the stairs one at a time and it is gradual; walk off the last stair and you have graduated. Step right up at somebody and it turns aggressive; step up one level and it is an upgrade. Wherever gress or grad appears, a foot has just moved one place.

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