gracious

adjective

gra·​cious ˈgrā-shəs 

1

a

: marked by kindness and courtesy

a gracious host

b

: characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the tasteful leisure of wealth and good breeding

gracious living

c

: graceful

d

: marked by tact and delicacy : urbane

2

: merciful, compassionate

—used conventionally of royalty and high nobility

my gracious lord, the Duke of Windsor

3

a

archaic : pleasing, acceptable

b

obsolete : godly

graciously adverb

graciousness noun

Synonyms

• hospitable
• friendly
• polite
• kindly
• thoughtful
• affable
• cordial

Choose the Right Synonym for gracious

gracious, cordial, affable, genial, sociable mean markedly pleasant and easy in social intercourse.

gracious implies courtesy and kindly consideration.

the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues

cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.

our host was cordial as he greeted us

affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.

though wealthy, she was affable to all

genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.

a genial companion with a ready quip

sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.

sociable people who enjoy entertaining

Examples of gracious in a Sentence

This is not a surprise given the welcome, gracious atmosphere, the uncommon competence of the kitchen, with its familiar Little Italy Italian menu … and the restaurant's credible wine list. —Mark Bittman, New York Times, 26 June 2002

If there are not too many in the group, you might inquire solicitously about their health. If you are in a particularly gracious mood, you might even give them a brief resume of your physical condition. —Groucho Marx, letter, 15 Nov. 1951, in The Groucho Letters,  1987

Phoebe closed her eyes, seeing her father moving like a shadow among his guests, gracious, smiling, pouring wine and exchanging greetings. —Judith Berry Griffin, Phoebe the Spy, 1977

The reception started in orderly enough fashion—gracious and leisurely. Paula Locker, the President of the Club, met me at the door, and I took my place in line with her, with Fishbait Miller doing the introducing. —Lady Bird Johnson, A White House Diary, 1970

Thank you for your gracious hospitality.

The magazine promotes gracious living.

Recent Examples on the Web

For some science, the discoveries will be limited by whatever the sky is gracious enough to give—a star must explode for the Rubin Observatory to spot a new supernova, for example. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 July 2025

Miss Manners is certain that your heartfelt gratitude, in the form of a gracious and appreciative handwritten letter, will be thanks enough. —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 27 June 2025

To their credit, the Heat have been gracious in their credit to the Panthers. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025

The food was unfussy and full-flavored, the service gracious, and the staff — from the spa therapists to the bakers — seemed genuinely happy to be here. —Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French gracieus, from Latin gratiosus enjoying favor, agreeable, from gratia

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Rhymes for gracious

• audacious
• capacious
• cretaceous
• fallacious
• flirtatious
• herbaceous
• horatius
• loquacious
• mendacious
• micaceous
• predaceous
• predacious

Kids Definition

gracious

adjective

gra·​cious ˈgrā-shəs 

1

: marked by kindness and courtesy

2

: pleasing or attractive in motion or form

gracious ballet steps

3

: characterized by charm, good taste, and politeness

gracious living

graciously adverb

graciousness noun

Etymology

Middle English gracious "having received divine grace," from early French gracieus (same meaning), from Latin gratiosus "enjoying favor, agreeable," from gratia "favor, thanks," from gratus "pleasing, agreeable, thankful" — related to grace, gratitude