Word
graceful
Phoneticsgrace·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹeɪsfəɫ/
UK/ɡɹˈeɪsfəl/
Definitions
01elegant movement
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. moving in a smooth, relaxed, and attractive way.
adj. characterised by elegance, beauty of movement, or harmony of form.
“The dancer was so graceful that she seemed to float across the stage.”
“The gazelle made a graceful leap over the tall grass, escaping the predator with effortless fluidity.”
02polite and kind
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. behaving in a kind and pleasant way, especially in a difficult situation.
adj. showing kindness, politeness, and a lack of arrogance, particularly when facing defeat or criticism.
“He was very graceful in defeat and congratulated the winner immediately.”
“Accepting the award with a graceful speech, the actress took care to credit the entire production crew for their hard work.”
Synonyms
03smooth technical transition
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. describing a computer program or system that stops or changes without causing errors.
adj. referring to a process, system, or exit that occurs in a controlled manner without causing disruption or data loss.
“The server performed a graceful shutdown, ensuring all user data was saved first.”
“The application was designed for graceful degradation, allowing core features to remain functional even when the external database was offline.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'graceful degradation' or 'graceful exit'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“A lot of beautiful graceful players tend to be beautiful and graceful without delivering on the biggest occasions.” “The train wove between the seven hills and seven fjords of this graceful city.” Etymology
From Middle English graceful. By surface analysis, grace + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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