1
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
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.
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
Jonathan and his team were all very, very, very gracious.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Even with this common sense stowed away somewhere in our brains, gracious hosts can't help but want everything to be as close to perfect as possible for their guests (yes, even in the rooms no one will enter).
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024
Lucas Oil tweeted a video of the large, inflatable bracelet being hung while thanking their BFF Caesars Dome for the gracious gift.
—Kurtcia Collazo, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Nov. 2024
Things aren’t adding up, and fortunately, Fleming is gracious enough not to need Captain Wagner’s insistence for Elsbeth and Kaya to participate in his continuing investigation.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gracious 
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Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Even with this common sense stowed away somewhere in our brains, gracious hosts can't help but want everything to be as close to perfect as possible for their guests (yes, even in the rooms no one will enter).
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024
Lucas Oil tweeted a video of the large, inflatable bracelet being hung while thanking their BFF Caesars Dome for the gracious gift.
—Kurtcia Collazo, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Nov. 2024
Things aren’t adding up, and fortunately, Fleming is gracious enough not to need Captain Wagner’s insistence for Elsbeth and Kaya to participate in his continuing investigation.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gracious
Dictionary Entries Near gracious
Cite this Entry
“Gracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gracious. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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