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\ ˈgrās 
\
\Definition of grace
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b : a virtue coming from God
c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance
c : a special favor : privilege each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage— Rudyard Kipling
d : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency
e : 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 Buchan
c : ease and suppleness (see supple entry 1 sense 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 Trillin
b : the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful
accepted his advice with grace
grace
verbgraced; gracing
Definition of grace (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to confer dignity or honor on
The king graced him with the rank of a knight.
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Synonyms & Antonyms for grace
Synonyms: Noun
- benevolence,
- boon,
- courtesy,
- favor,
- indulgence,
- kindness,
- mercy,
- service,
- turn
Synonyms: Verb
- adorn,
- array,
- beautify,
- bedeck,
- bedizen,
- blazon,
- caparison,
- deck,
- decorate,
- do,
- do up,
- doll up,
- drape,
- dress,
- embellish,
- emblaze,
- emboss,
- enrich,
- fancify,
- fancy up,
- festoon,
- garnish,
- glitz (up),
- gussy up,
- ornament,
- pretty (up),
- trim
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of grace in a Sentence
Noun
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. Verb
Several marble statues grace the courtyard.
I hope that you will grace our gathering with your presence.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Della, who quietly and confoundingly persists in loving Jack’s soul despite his sorry trappings and upsetting behavior, appears to be a personification of Christian grace.
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Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, "Marilynne Robinson’s Lonely Souls," 11 Sep. 2020 Elsewhere around downtown, however, there were some delightful small buildings that possessed style and grace and provided a welcoming street presence.
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Larry Millett, Star Tribune, "In 1950s, modernizing Minneapolis saw a major loss of modest buildings," 11 Sep. 2020 Meghan Sotelo, who attended the rally with her three children and a Biden-Harris campaign logo flag, granted the Trump supporters some grace.
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Emily Larsen, Washington Examiner, "Nasty exchanges outside Biden speech as Trump supporters counter ‘Made in America’ pitch," 9 Sep. 2020 Longtime readers who know the outcome can focus on Robinson’s deeper look at humanity and history, full of torment but also abiding kindness and grace.
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Monitor Reviewers, The Christian Science Monitor, "They persisted: Tales of endurance lead the 10 best books of September," 9 Sep. 2020 Members of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses and the Association of Immunization Managers said the grace periods are a prudent step to account for the pandemic’s effect on pediatric care.
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Carmen Heredia Rodriguez, USA TODAY, "'What's going to happen now?' With schools starting online, vaccinations head for recess," 5 Sep. 2020 If, despite all your efforts, a decision doesn’t go your way, accept the outcome with dignity and grace.
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Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, "Daily horoscope for August 30, 2020," 30 Aug. 2020 It’s a multitasker capable of handling nearly any kitchen task with ease and grace.
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Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, "Paul’s Cooking tips: A Chinese-style cleaver the affordable, multitasking knife you should add to your collection," 29 Aug. 2020 Even better, a fall from grace followed by a period of regret and repentance can be turned into a highly remunerative rehabilitation.
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Elizabeth Spiers, The New York Review of Books, "Jerry Falwell Jr. and the Evangelical Redemption Story," 20 Aug. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Silver Olympic figures grace the black tile walls of Studio 2000.
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Christine Fernando, The Indianapolis Star, "Studio 2000 has closed. What will happen to the iconic Art Deco space it occupied?," 1 Sep. 2020 There's no better gift with which to grace our world.
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Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, "Barack Obama Just Shared a Touching Story About Meeting Chadwick Boseman," 29 Aug. 2020 Astros fans now grace the seats behind home plate inside Minute Maid Park.
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Jay R. Jordan, Houston Chronicle, "Is Bush 41’s cutout behind home plate wearing Astros socks?," 14 Aug. 2020 Beaulieu Vineyards labels grace wines in every price tier, from gas station shelves to three Michelin star lists.
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Bryce Wiatrak, SFChronicle.com, "Get a taste of Napa history at Beaulieu Vineyard," 12 Apr. 2018 Once Upon a Christmas 'til the cows come home, or the poinsettias grace our credenzas.
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Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, "Dolly Parton's New Christmas Album A Holly Dolly Christmas to Debut This Fall," 4 Aug. 2020 The long-running competition show will grace our TV screens once again for the 29th (!) time since first premiering in June 2005.
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Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'Dancing With the Stars' Season 29 Has One Confirmed Cast Member So Far," 15 July 2020 While characters like Liz Lemon (Fey) and Kenneth Parcell (McBrayer) will grace the screen, talent from other NBC series will make guest appearances as well.
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Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "30 Rock Is Coming Back for a Special New Episode Next Month," 16 June 2020 Late last month my wife gave birth to (disclosure: personal bias) the most amazing human being to ever grace this earth, Davis James Silverii.
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Ian Silverii, The Denver Post, "Silverii: Take it from this new dad, everyone needs paid family leave," 23 Feb. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for grace
grace
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of grace
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a way of moving that is smooth and attractive and that is not stiff or awkward
: a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving
: skills that are needed for behaving in a polite way in social situations
grace
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of grace (Entry 2 of 2)
formal : to decorate or add beauty to (something)
See the full definition for grace in the English Language Learners Dictionary
grace
noun\ ˈgrās \
\Kids Definition of grace
(Entry 1 of 2)
grace
verbgraced; gracing
Kids Definition of grace (Entry 2 of 2)
grace
nounLegal 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
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Comments on grace
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Time Traveler for grace
The first known use of grace was in the 12th century
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