A method for adiabatic charging of a capacitive load sequentially connects outer switches between a voltage VDD and ground and inner switches to at least one capacitance that self-balances between VDD and ground. A voltage waveform is provided to the capacitive load from a common node of the outer switches and the inner switches. An adiabatic charging circuit includes outer transistor switches between a voltage VDD and ground. Inner transistor switches are connected to at least one capacitance that self-balances between VDD and ground. A control signal generating circuit generates control signals for the inner and outer transistor switches that sequentially turn the inner and outer switches on and off to create a multi-level voltage staircase waveform at a common node of the inner and outer transistor switches.