grace

1 of 2

noun

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 heritageRudyard 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 youthJohn 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 officeCalvin 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 statuesJ. A. Michener
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Paragon was one of few splits reliable enough to navigate through the garbage with a semblance of grace, all while encouraging riders to throw little spins, ride switch, and pop off rock-hard pillows without too much concern for landing stability. Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024 That grace is a fitting conclusion to her season-long arc. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
While the ballot-counting continues and Kornacki graces our screens, here are some facts to know about the beloved political analyst. Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024 Years after dazzling in primetime by covering herself in fake blood, Gaga had graced the Oscars stage with utmost elegance, capable of evolving her talents and becoming a stately pop spokeswoman. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grace 

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

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grace was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near grace

Cite this Entry

“Grace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grace. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

grace

1 of 2 noun
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
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 rightThe 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

More from Merriam-Webster on grace

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!