gracious
pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.
characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury: gracious suburban living;a gracious home.
indulgent or beneficent in a pleasantly condescending way, especially to inferiors.
merciful or compassionate: our gracious king.
Obsolete. fortunate or happy.
Also good gracious . (used as an exclamation of surprise, relief, dismay, etc.)
Origin of gracious
1synonym study For gracious
Other words for gracious
Opposites for gracious
Other words from gracious
- gra·cious·ly, adverb
- gra·ci·os·i·ty [grey-shee-os-i-tee], /ˌgreɪ ʃiˈɒs ɪ ti/, noun
- gra·cious·ness, noun
- non·gra·ci·os·i·ty, noun
- non·gra·cious, adjective
- o·ver·gra·cious, adjective
- qua·si-gra·cious, adjective
Words that may be confused with gracious
- gracious , gratis, gratuitous
Words Nearby gracious
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use gracious in a sentence
When my family came down with the coronavirus in November, I immediately sought advice from Ben, who had probably just come off a grueling shift at the hospital but was still incredibly gracious.
If you attend, it would be gracious to send a modest present.
Miss Manners: Grandson graduates but gets no gifts | Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin | May 21, 2021 | Washington PostIf the service seems unusually smooth and gracious, it’s because a number of employees hail from the Fabio Trabocchi school of hospitality.
If you think fine dining is on pause, Imperfecto would beg to differ | Tom Sietsema | May 7, 2021 | Washington PostIt was neither friendly nor gracious to be absolutely confident in your own diagnosis.
Miss Manners: Friend might be lying, but you were definitely rude | Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin | April 8, 2021 | Washington PostIn a video responding to Hart’s decision, Miller-Meeks announced that she received “a very gracious call” from her former Democratic opponent officially conceding the race.
Iowa Democrat drops attempt to contest House race, citing ‘toxic campaign of political disinformation’ | Marianna Sotomayor | March 31, 2021 | Washington Post
But he was always uncommonly gracious, a truly gentle man, willing to dispense wisdom and perspective when asked.
Ed Brooke: The Senate's Civil Rights Pioneer and Prophet of a Post-Racial America | John Avlon | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAt his Tucson hacienda he is a gracious host and a good neighbor.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was a gracious touch, a rhetorical olive branch to his vanquished foes.
Didn't Obama Hear Oregon’s Warning Shot on Immigration? | Doug McIntyre | November 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTObama managed the extraordinary feat of making McConnell look gracious by comparison.
Steven was gracious enough to do it, and his thoughts were fantastic.
David Chase on Tony Soprano’s Fate, the State of TV, and Why He Couldn’t Finish ‘True Detective’ | Marlow Stern | September 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST"I am sure there is no one I shall like half so well," said Isabel, truthfully; and Flora loved her for not being gracious.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonThe gracious message then was, that in such a case he should be represented to the Pope, and possibly might be pardoned.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterWhat gives to a religious assembly all its solemnity, is the gracious presence of God.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamShe was gracious to him for once, and gave him good morning in a manner that bordered upon the pleasant.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniBut although Turner has exaggerated the ruggedness of Hindhead in his picture, the place is not at all gracious or suave.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries | Charles G. Harper
British Dictionary definitions for gracious
/ (ˈɡreɪʃəs) /
characterized by or showing kindness and courtesy
condescendingly courteous, benevolent, or indulgent
characterized by or suitable for a life of elegance, ease, and indulgence: gracious living; gracious furnishings
merciful or compassionate
obsolete fortunate, prosperous, or happy
an expression of mild surprise or wonder (often in exclamatory phrases such as good gracious!, gracious me!)
Derived forms of gracious
- graciously, adverb
- graciousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with gracious
see goodness gracious.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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