grace

1 of 2

noun

ˈgrās 

1

a

: 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

2

a

: approval, favor

stayed in his good graces

b

archaic : mercy, pardon

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

3

a

: 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

8

a

: 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

2 of 2

verb

graced; gracing

transitive verb

1

: to confer dignity or honor on

The king graced him with the rank of a knight.

2

: adorn, embellish

graveled walks graced with statues

—J. A. Michener

Synonyms

Noun

• benevolence
• boon
• courtesy
• favor
• indulgence
• kindness
• mercy
• service
• turn

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

Choose the Right Synonym for grace

mercy, charity, clemency, grace, leniency mean a disposition to show kindness or compassion.

mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

threw himself on the mercy of the court

charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.

show a little charity for the less fortunate

clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.

the judge refused to show clemency

grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.

by the grace of God

leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.

criticized the courts for excessive leniency

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.

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The play searches not for answers but for guidance on how to move with grace from disaster to disaster. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023

The lyrics talk about the grace of — for the first time ever, finding love for the last time — and embracing lasting happiness despite losing faith. —Will Groff, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023

Sean Panikkar, as Loge, darted about with balletic grace, exhibiting pinpoint intonation and crisp diction. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023

And just to be able to have the story of grace and redemption in these times of such cruelty and stupidity and suffering, and to have a good story like this (to share) with you and so many others. —Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2023

Only Sanders doesn’t have the grace or humility of a man like Tyson. —Jfreeman, oregonlive, 16 Sep. 2023

Beautiful handmade chessboards grace tables, and the impressive library stocks titles by Colson Whitehead and Emily St. John Mandel. —Maria Shollenbarger, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2023

The nearly four-hour-long 2023 VMAs ceremony featured an overwhelming amount of performances, none of which included SZA — despite the initial efforts to have her grace the show’s stage. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 15 Sep. 2023

The company was at the center of so many issues that defined the era: racial reckoning, the labor movement, pandemic shutdowns, supply chain problems, and female founders falling (or being pushed?) from grace. —Marisa Meltzer, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2023

Verb

With an annular solar eclipse coming up on Oct. 14, 2023 and a total solar eclipse gracing the sky on April 8, 2024, there are opportunities to see some awesome astronomical beauty. —Bellamy Richardson, wsj.com, 30 Sep. 2023

Next year, two supermoons will grace the skies: the first on September 18, and the last on October 17. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023

The actress graced the red carpet in a white Louis Vuitton mini dress with a feather hem. —Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023

Rodrigo released Guts earlier this month and is currently gracing the cover of Rolling Stone. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023

As such, Saturday night could be his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium, if not his last time gracing the Chavez Ravine mound — though a home start in the playoffs next month seems increasingly likely. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023

Besides Zimmerman, the evening’s host Pearce will grace the stage for a performance. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 15 Sep. 2023

The Obamas would grace the cover of several ESSENCE magazines, as leadership wanted to really cultivate a relationship with the first Black family. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 9 Sep. 2023

The dewy women who grace the company’s advertising campaigns appear to be wearing no cosmetics, but somehow, expensively so. —Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin gratia favor, charm, thanks, from gratus pleasing, grateful; akin to Sanskrit gṛṇāti he praises

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grace

• saving grace
• grace with one's presence
• fall from grace
• year of grace
• in a state of grace
• grace period
• with bad/ill grace
• (there) but for the grace of God (go I)
• coup de grace
• with good grace
• grace note

See More

• saving grace
• grace with one's presence
• fall from grace
• year of grace
• in a state of grace
• grace period
• with bad/ill grace
• (there) but for the grace of God (go I)
• coup de grace
• with good grace
• grace note

See More

Kids Definition

grace

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrās 

1

a

: help given to people by God in overcoming temptation

b

: a state of freedom from sin enjoyed through divine grace

2

: a short prayer at a meal

3

a

: approval, favor

stayed in the boss's good graces

b

: a special favor : privilege

c

: a temporary delay granted from the performance of an obligation (as the payment of a debt)

4

a

: a charming trait or quality

b

: ease of movement

walks with grace

5

—used as a title for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop

graceful

-fəl

adjective

gracefully

-fə-lē

adverb

gracefulness noun

grace

2 of 2 verb

graced; gracing

1

: honor entry 2 sense 1b

deeds that graced the town

2

: adorn, embellish

Etymology

Noun

Middle English grace "help from God," from early French grace (same meaning), from Latin gratia "favor, charm, thanks," from gratus "pleasing, thankful, agreeable" — related to agree, congratulate, gracious, gratitude

Legal Definition

grace

noun

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

2

a

: a temporary exemption

b

: the prerogative of mercy exercised (as by a chief executive) or granted in the form of equitable relief