Word
gracious
Phoneticsgra·cious, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹeɪʃəs/
UK/ɡɹˈeɪʃəs/
Definitions
01kind and polite
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. behaving in a kind, polite, and pleasant way towards others.
adj. characterised by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit, especially toward those of lower social standing or in difficult situations.
“The host was very gracious and made sure everyone felt welcome at the party.”
“Despite the aggressive questioning from the press, the minister remained gracious and answered every query with calm professionalism.”
Antonyms
02elegant or comfortable
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. having the qualities of a high-quality, elegant, and comfortable life.
adj. relating to a style of life characterised by elegance, luxury, and good taste.
“They enjoyed a few days of gracious living in a beautiful old hotel by the sea.”
“The estate was designed for gracious entertaining, featuring expansive gardens and a dining hall that could seat fifty guests.”
03forgiving in defeat
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. being kind and polite even when you lose or when someone is wrong.
adj. showing magnanimity and a lack of resentment, particularly when conceding a loss or accepting an apology.
“He was gracious in defeat, shaking hands with the winner and offering his congratulations.”
“It is rare to find a politician so gracious in victory that they go out of their way to praise their opponent's hard work.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“When the album was done, she sent me a very gracious handwritten letter, saying that my version of her song had made her cry.” “When I spoke to Rusbridger, who had lunch with Pemsel recently, he was gracious toward his former colleagues, and still referred to The Guardian with "we".” Etymology
From Middle English gracious, from Old French gracieus, from Latin gratiosus, from gratia (“esteem, favor”). See grace. Displaced native Old English hold (“gracious”). Doublet of gracioso and grazioso.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/gracious