gracefully

[ greys-fuh-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way characterized by elegance or beauty of form, manner, movement, or speech:

   She is as strong and fit as one of those gracefully sleek and beautiful racehorses you see galloping toward the finish line.

   It's wise to coach children on how to gracefully handle being presented with an unwanted gift.

Other Words From

• non·grace·ful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gracefully¹

graceful ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Still, in one of his last acts as president, Bush wrote a generous, graceful letter to incoming President Bill Clinton.

From Washington Post

I saw at least 10 small boats coming to help, I jumped in a private boat whose owners were graceful enough to send their captain help out.

From Washington Blade

In the Bronx, Curtis is trying the spruce pine and the graceful longleaf pine, both native to southern states.

From Washington Post

They’re also graceful swimmers, and can hold their breath for up to five minutes.

From Nautilus

Amy Grant texted me and told me she listened and thought my story was beautiful in the way I told it and graceful and I appreciated that.

From Washington Blade

He gracefully lifts a little boy in the air and poses for a picture.

From The Daily Beast

At this point, McAvoy bows out of the conversation gracefully.

From The Daily Beast

You'd been drunk for hours, but you dove off a double-decker lake boat and came up gracefully for air.

From The Daily Beast

The Sud Express dining car served a seven-course lunch, paced gracefully to last most of the journey.

From The Daily Beast

His most common reminders for anyone about to hit the red carpet are “walk gracefully and suck in.”

From The Daily Beast

Venice is a City of the Past, and wears her faded yet queenly robes more gracefully by night than by day.

From Project Gutenberg

Perry's arms fell gracefully to his side and he inclined his head and half closed his eyes in acknowledgment.

From Project Gutenberg

How gracefully she led off the merry dance whilst clogs were on her spirits, weighing upon every movement.

From Project Gutenberg

Even if you see that matters are going wrong, do not let your annoyance appear, but gracefully ignore the painful facts.

From Project Gutenberg

By making them habitual, they will become natural, and appear easily, and sit gracefully upon you.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adroitly
• beautifully
• delicately
• easily
• elegantly
• graciously
• neatly
• nimbly
• skillfully
• smoothly