graceful
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of graceful
A late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at grace, -ful
Explanation
Use the adjective graceful to describe movements that are lovely and elegant. If you watch a yoga class, you'll see a variety of styles, ranging from awkward to graceful. Were some people born graceful? From their elegant way they move to their great timing and well-chosen words, being graceful does seem to come naturally to some. For others, it comes with practice and being focused. For example, the discipline of ballet makes dancers graceful — even when reaching for something on a high shelf at the grocery store.
Vocabulary lists containing graceful
Power Suffix: -ful
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"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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A Single Shard
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Another muralist, musician and artist Vision Graceful, who grew up in Seattle, credits his father’s deep love of sports as a personal source of inspiration for his art.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 6, 2023
The Treasury Department also identified four yachts linked to Mr. Putin: the Shellest, the Nega, the Graceful and the Olympia.
From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2022
Graceful moved from Germany to the coast of Kaliningrad, Russia, in mid-February.
From BBC • Mar. 22, 2022
Graceful, playful and tough, the gray whale is a beloved icon of the Pacific coast.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2021
Graceful and unhurried, as if unaware of the chaos around them, they set about subduing the panicking Smokies.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
