An inclined plane is a straight trade-off of force and distance. Lifting a weight against the force of gravity requires energy (work).

Work = Force x Distance

A ramp or gradient lets you lift an item using a smaller force over a larger distance. Using a 1:10 ramp (forward ten metres, to go up one) would decrease the force by a tenth while increasing the distance travelled by a factor of ten with W being the same (excluding frictional losses).

Inclined roads and multi-story car parks are commonplace examples.