Gracious
/ˈɡreɪʃəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Gracious describes someone who is warm and polite in a way that makes others feel comfortable and respected. This word often refers to people who are kind even when they do not have to be, like hosts who make guests feel welcome or leaders who treat others with respect.
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See It in Action
Showing kindness and polite respect, especially in formal situations
- •The hostess was gracious to all her guests at the party.
- •He gave a gracious apology for his mistake.
- •The winner was gracious in victory and praised the other players.
Having a pleasant and smooth style or manner
- •She moved with a gracious elegance at the dance.
- •His gracious smile made everyone feel welcome.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'gracious' like 'nice,' but with extra politeness and respect, especially when you have more power or control
- ✓Picture a queen or a teacher smiling gently and helping others without showing anger or pride
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says 'thank you' warmly and helps you kindly even if they are busy
- ✓Sounds like 'GRACE-us' → imagine someone moving with grace, like a dancer who is smooth and kind in their actions
- ✓Remember famous kind leaders or characters in stories who treat everyone well, like a caring king or queen
- ✓NOT like 'rude' (bad manners), 'gracious' means polite and respectful even when it is not required
- ✓NOT like 'friendly' (casual kindness), 'gracious' has a formal, respectful tone, often in special situations
- ✓NOT like 'generous' (giving gifts or money), 'gracious' is more about polite behavior and manners
Try Other Words
- •Kind: showing care and concern for others (Use when focusing on warmth and friendliness rather than formality)
- •Courteous: polite and respectful (Use in formal or official contexts similar to 'gracious')
- •Elegant: smooth and stylish in movement or appearance (Use when emphasizing beauty or style rather than kindness)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: No clear prefix or suffix; 'gracious' comes from the root 'grace'
- •Etymology: From Latin 'gratia' meaning 'favor,' 'kindness,' or 'thanks'
- •Historical development: Originally connected to 'grace,' meaning favor or kindness from God, later used for polite and kind behavior by people
- •Modern usage: Used to describe polite, kind, and respectful behavior, especially in formal or important situations
Reflect & Connect
•How can being gracious help in difficult or tense situations?
•Can someone be gracious without being friendly? How does that change the meaning?
Fill in the blanks
1.The host was gracious ___ welcoming all the guests with a warm smile and polite words.
2.Even after losing the game, she was gracious ___ congratulating the winner sincerely.
3.Being gracious means showing respect and kindness, not just ___ good manners.
4.A gracious person often behaves ___ in formal events or important meetings.
5.When someone is gracious, they usually speak ___ and avoid rude language.
6.You can tell a person is gracious when they accept help ___ without showing pride or anger.
7.Leaders who are gracious often gain ___ respect from their followers.