Definition of grace
1a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctificationb : a virtue coming from Godc : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance
2a : approval, favor stayed in his good gracesb archaic : mercy, pardonc : a special favor : privilege each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage — Rudyard Kiplingd : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemencye : a temporary exemption : reprieve
3a : a charming or attractive trait or characteristic Among disagreeable qualities he possessed the saving grace of humor.b : a pleasing appearance or effect : charm all the grace of youth — John Buchanc : ease and suppleness (see 1supple 2b) of movement or bearing danced with such grace
4 —used as a title of address or reference for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop
5 : a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks
6 Graces plural : three sister goddesses in Greek mythology who are the givers of charm and beauty
7 : a musical trill, turn, or appoggiatura
8a : sense of propriety or right had the grace not to run for elective office — Calvin Trillinb : the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful accepted his advice with grace
From the M-W Editors
Examples of grace in a Sentence
She walked across the stage with effortless grace.
She handles her problems with grace and dignity.
He has shown remarkable grace during this crisis.
She is quite lovable despite her lack of social graces.
Let us give thanks for God's grace.
By the grace of God, no one was seriously hurt.
She tried to live her life in God's grace.
Recent Examples of grace from the Web
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He was named the winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Award for excellence in broadcasting in 2000 and his image and biography grace a plaque in the Hall’s media section.
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The Atlanta Falcons’ two primary wide receivers, Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, are tall, fleet and polished athletes who seem to glide beneath passes with a silky grace.
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A credit card grace period is the period of time between the closing of the monthly billing cycle and the due date of that bill for that cycle.
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Look for language that outlines when and how interest will accrue, and how grace periods can be lost and regained.
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In some cases, love must have a high proof, since a few winners forsook the nuances of creamy textures, flecks of spice and grace notes of anise and went straight for the heat of extra-powerful rum.
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Some out-of-work Hollywood moguls handle the transition from general to civilian with grace.
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The very idea of sitting across the table from a demagogue who preyed on racial, ethnic and religious hostilities and treating him with decorum and social grace fills me with disgust, to the point of overflowing. . .
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Ms. Halvorson’s output was multilayered and superserious: Mr. Zorn’s compositions brought out the prickliness in her style but also a sense of precarious grace.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grace'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of grace
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin gratia favor, charm, thanks, from gratus pleasing, grateful; akin to Sanskrit gṛṇāti he praises
Synonym Discussion of grace
Other Christian Religious Terms
grace
Definition of grace
graced
;gracing
Examples of grace in a Sentence
Several marble statues grace the courtyard.
I hope that you will grace our gathering with your presence.
Recent Examples of grace from the Web
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Channel 3 Dillon Francis, Empire of the Sun and Steve Angello are among the artists who will grace Channel 3 on Friday.
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This quotation graces the street-facing window of the F.E.C.
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Fabio, the golden-haired model who graced the cover of hundreds of romance novels, was wrapping up Thanksgiving dinner at Donald Trump’s South Florida club when the president-elect began making the rounds to greet his guests.
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Fabio, the golden-haired model who graced the cover of hundreds of romance novels, was wrapping up Thanksgiving dinner at Donald Trump's South Florida club when the president-elect began making the rounds to greet his guests.
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Plus, get up close and personal with the hottest celebs who grace our pages, from on-the-rise movie stars to the next big musicians.
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Most of my email this year was for the birds, specifically Pacific golden plovers (kolea) and white terns (manu-o-Ku), the native species that choose to grace our city.
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Craig Sager, the longtime sportscaster who graced the sidelines of the NBA’s biggest games in his majestic wardrobe and turned into an inspirational figure in recent years during his public battle with leukemia, died on Thursday.
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Well enough to grace the biggest international stage in sports.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grace'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of grace
see 1grace
GRACE Defined for English Language Learners
grace
playDefinition of grace for English Language Learners
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: a way of moving that is smooth and attractive and that is not stiff or awkward
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: a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving
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graces : skills that are needed for behaving in a polite way in social situations
grace
Definition of grace for English Language Learners
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: to decorate or add beauty to (something)
GRACE Defined for Kids
Definition of grace for Students
Law Dictionary
grace
Legal Definition of grace
1 : a special favor : privilege considered by many authorities to be a matter of grace and not of right — The Mentally Disabled and the Law
2a : a temporary exemption b : the prerogative of mercy exercised (as by a chief executive) or granted in the form of equitable relief
Learn More about grace
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See words that rhyme with grace Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for grace Spanish Central: Translation of grace Nglish: Translation of grace for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of grace for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grace
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