gracious
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
behaving in a kind, polite, and pleasant way towards others.
characterised by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit, especially toward those of lower social standing or in difficult situations.
Simple“The host was very gracious and made sure everyone felt welcome at the party.”
In context“Despite the aggressive questioning from the press, the minister remained gracious and answered every query with calm professionalism.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
having the qualities of a high-quality, elegant, and comfortable life.
relating to a style of life characterised by elegance, luxury, and good taste.
Simple“They enjoyed a few days of gracious living in a beautiful old hotel by the sea.”
In context“The estate was designed for gracious entertaining, featuring expansive gardens and a dining hall that could seat fifty guests.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
being kind and polite even when you lose or when someone is wrong.
showing magnanimity and a lack of resentment, particularly when conceding a loss or accepting an apology.
Simple“He was gracious in defeat, shaking hands with the winner and offering his congratulations.”
In context“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.”
“When the album was done, she sent me a very gracious handwritten letter, saying that my version of her song had made her cry.”
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.