definitions

gracious

[ grey-shuhs ]
/ ˈgreɪ ʃəs /
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adjective

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.

interjection

(used as an exclamation of surprise, relief, dismay, etc.)

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RELATED WORDS

delicately, politely, helpfully, tenderly, sympathetically, generously, genially, affectionately, warmly, enthusiastically, wholeheartedly, liberally, easily, neatly, smoothly, nimbly, beautifully, skillfully, elegantly, adroitly

Nearby words

gracias, gracile, gracilis, gracilis muscle, gracioso, gracious, grackle, grad, grad., gradability, gradable

Origin of gracious

1250–1300; Middle English gracious < Old French < Latin grātiōsus amiable, equivalent to grāti(a) grace + -ōsus -ous

SYNONYMS FOR gracious

1 benign, friendly, favorable, polite. See kind1.
4 tender, clement, mild, gentle.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gracious ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

Can be confused

gracious gratis gratuitous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for graciously

British Dictionary definitions for graciously

gracious

/ (ˈɡreɪʃəs) /

adjective

characterized by or showing kindness and courtesy
condescendingly courteous, benevolent, or indulgent
characterized by or suitable for a life of elegance, ease, and indulgencegracious living; gracious furnishings
merciful or compassionate
obsolete fortunate, prosperous, or happy

interjection

an expression of mild surprise or wonder (often in exclamatory phrases such as good gracious!, gracious me!)

Derived Forms

graciously, adverbgraciousness, 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

Idioms and Phrases with graciously

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.