# grace

/ˈɡɹeɪs/ (US) · /ɡɹˈeɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grace
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. elegant movement

noun · CEFR B2

a smooth and beautiful way of moving your body.

For teachers: elegance and poise in physical movement or posture.

- The dancer moved across the stage with amazing grace and power.
- Even in her advanced years, the former athlete carried herself with a natural grace that commanded immediate respect from everyone in the room.

### 2. politeness and kindness

noun · CEFR B2

a polite and pleasant way of behaving, especially in a difficult situation.

For teachers: courteous goodwill or a willingness to be fair and decent.

- He had the grace to admit he was wrong and apologised to the team.
- She handled the public criticism with remarkable grace, refusing to engage in petty arguments with her detractors.

### 3. prayer before a meal

noun · CEFR B1

a short prayer said before or after a meal to give thanks.

For teachers: a short prayer of thanksgiving offered before or after a meal.

- The family sat down and said grace before they started eating dinner.
- It was a long-standing tradition in their household for the youngest child to recite grace before the holiday feast began.

### 4. extra time for a debt

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

extra time allowed to pay a bill or finish a task after the deadline.

For teachers: a period of time allowed for compliance with a requirement or for payment of a debt after the official deadline has passed.

- The bank gave us a three-day grace period to pay the mortgage.
- The contract includes a ten-day grace period, during which no late fees will be accrued despite the missed deadline.

### 5. divine favour

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

in religion, the kindness and love that God shows to people.

For teachers: the free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

- They believed that they were saved by the grace of God.
- The sermon focused on the concept of divine grace as a transformative force that operates independently of human merit.

### 6. musical ornament

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small extra note added to a melody to make it sound more beautiful.

For teachers: an extra note printed in small type, added as an ornament to a basic melody.

- The flautist added a quick grace note before the final high C.
- The performer's interpretation of the baroque suite was noted for its delicate use of grace notes and trills.

### 7. to honour or decorate

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

to make something more attractive or to honour a place with your presence.

For teachers: to bring honour or dignity to something by one's presence; to adorn or embellish.

- Several famous paintings grace the walls of the old library.
- We were deeply moved that the retired professor chose to grace our small ceremony with his presence.

## Examples

- She moves with the grace of a professional dancer.
- The diplomat handled the difficult questions with grace and never lost his temper.
- While her technical skill was undeniable, it was the natural grace of her performance that truly captivated the audience and elevated the piece beyond a mere exercise.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.