In the current times, people will often judge your intelligence based on how you speak, your choice of words, and your fluency. Therefore, learning new words and how to apply them will allow you to improve the impression you make on people. One common term you may want to know about is “gracious,” especially the gracious definition, meaning, and usage.
Gracious means “showing a natural kindness and courtesy, especially in social situations.” Refer to this word when describing someone with easygoing or pleasing manners in social settings. “Gracious” also means showing consideration or civility over others or behaving pleasantly or politely.
Gracious is a popular English word with multiple definitions. It is easy to apply in sentences. Once you come across this word, you can be sure not to forget it. Read on to learn more about gracious definitions, history, pronunciation, and usage before applying it in sentences.
What is the Definition of Gracious?
“Gracious” means “as a natural kindness, courtesy, charm, or generosity of spirit.” It can also mean abounding in grace, manifesting mercy, or favor.
Below are some examples in sentences:
- Michael always has a gracious smile whenever he comes home.
- The Prime Minister was gracious when talking to the guests, and many argue that she was pretending.
- The team was very gracious; even in defeat, they observed calmness.
- Samuel is always an incredibly gracious host, provided you bond.
What is the Meaning of Gracious?
The word “gracious” means behaving pleasantly, politely, or calmly. This word refers to someone kind, warmly courteous, compassionate, or charming.
Here are some examples in sentences;
- Do you know that Sandra is one of the most gracious ladies in our class?
- People like visiting her restaurant because of her gracious employees.
- Despite her disappointment, she was gracious in her farewell.
- A gracious smile can be a fantastic ice breaker.
- Other Meanings of Gracious and Synonyms
Synonyms are words with similar meanings. English words have numerous synonyms. Since one word can have multiple meanings, its synonyms may not apply to each meaning. For this reason, this section discusses the different meanings of gracious and their synonyms (in each case). Below are these meanings;
The word “gracious” means having the qualities of great comfort and freedom often made possible by privilege or being wealthy. Some examples in sentences include:
- They are rich enough to afford gracious living.
- Sammy has always had a gracious life; he does not understand daily struggles.
- Not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy a gracious lifestyle.
- Her gracious upbringing sets her apart from everyone else in the school.
Synonyms that apply to this meaning of gracious
- Comfortable
- Indulgent
- Elegant
- Gallant
- Plush
- Exquisite
- Fine
- Stylish
- Luxurious
- Sophisticated
- High-class
- Opulent
- Tasteful
- Sumptuous
- Chic
- Classy
- Swanky
This word also means being courteous or well-mannered when dealing with other people. Examples in sentences are;
- She is very gracious in her interactions with others.
- She was named employee of the year because she is gracious with clients.
- Alice is the most gracious host I have ever encountered.
- Despite their ill behavior towards her, she was still gracious.
Here are some synonyms that apply to this meaning.
- Courteous
- Polite
- Civil
- Mannerly
- Kind
- Cordial
- Couth
- Genial
- Hospitable
- Decorous
- Obliging
- Complaisant
- Sociable
- Unctuous
- Congenial
- Approachable
- Accommodating
- Well-bred
The word “gracious” also means being diplomatic or dignified when dealing with others. Here are some applications in sentences;
- The ambassador was gracious in his dealings with the president.
- Our president is one of the most gracious leaders in the country.
- The Texas governor is incredibly gracious.
- You cannot be a good leader if you are not gracious.
Below are some synonyms that apply to this definition.
- Refined
- Courtly
- Dignified
- Decorous
- Distinguished
- Noble
- Respectable
- Formal
- Stately
- Honorable
- Majestic
- Diplomatic
- Somber
- Starchy
- Regal
This word also means having a compassionate or considerate character. Here are some examples;
- Samantha is one of the most gracious givers I have met.
- She got her job from being gracious.
- She bonds well with others because she is gracious.
Below are some synonyms that apply to this case.
- Ethical
- Good-hearted
- Benignant
- Altruistic
- Humane
- Charitable
- Humanitarian
- Sympathetic
- Benevolent
- Benign
- Magnanimous
Gracious can describe someone kind but portrays a feeling of superiority. Look at some examples in sentences;
- He fancies himself more gracious than everyone else in his class.
- He tends to behave annoyingly but graciously with his employees.
- She became pretentiously gracious when interacting with his classmates.
Here are some synonyms
- Condescending
- Haughty
- Snooty
- Patronizing
- Imperious
- Superior
- Contemptuous
- Arrogant
The word “gracious” also applies in exclamations. It expresses surprise or emphasizes what is being said. Here are some examples;
- Goodness gracious, Did she talk to me?
- Gracious me, they passed!
Synonyms in this case are;
- Gosh
- Heavens
- Woow
- Goodness
- Golly
- Oh my
- Dear me
- My
How to Use Gracious in a Sentence
You can use the word “gracious” in a sentence as an adjective. Since gracious has multiple meanings, it would be wise to understand each meaning before using it in a sentence.
A sight mistake means an error in your speech or written content. You can avoid this by learning all other words closely related to gracious and how they apply in various context forms.
Despite its numerous meanings, this word is straightforward to use in sentences. Its meanings are not too different from each other. Therefore, using it in sentences should not be difficult.
10 Examples of Gracious in a Sentence
After learning the meanings and definitions of a new word, the next step is using it in sentences. Are you looking for sentences and phrases with the word gracious? Here are a few examples;
- Zain’s pleasant and gracious interactions with others made her a favorite in the firm.
- Despite his formidable social status, he was very gracious with his guests.
- After hearing the weird comment, he smiled graciously and slowly walked away.
- The Bahamas is one of the most gracious destinations, thanks to its beautiful beaches, nature, and hospitable inhabitants.
- She is always annoyingly gracious when interacting with her employees, steering the conversation and making a fool of them.
- She has devoted much time to developing her business, including being a gracious employer.
- This room is gracious yet comfortable and not too formal.
- The home design aims to elevate gracious living on the South side.
- Goodness gracious, what are you doing here so late?
- The king has always been incredibly gracious when interacting with his subjects.
How Do You Spell Gracious?
The correct way of spelling this word is “G.R.A.C.I.O.U.S.”
This is one of the easiest words to spell. However, people still make spelling mistakes. For instance, some people use the letter “s” instead of “c” because of how it is pronounced. The use of correct spellings plays a significant role in communication. This word is also easy to spell because it has the same spelling in all English variations. People often make spelling mistakes with words with different spellings in the U.K and American English. This is not an issue with the word “gracious.”
How Do You Pronounce Gracious?
The word gracious is pronounced as gray-shuhs or “\ˈgrā-shəs\.”
It is a relatively easy word to pronounce. The ultimate goal of learning a new word is to use it in conversations or writing. Therefore, learning gracious pronunciation would be fantastic. It will protect you from sounding confused or from people not taking you seriously. Learning to pronounce a new word will also give you the confidence to use it. Most people cannot learn to pronounce a word by reading its pronunciation. The trick is listening to the pronunciation. The internet will always come in handy.
How Many Syllables are in Gracious?
The word “gracious” has two syllables
The word “gracious” has two syllables; “gra” and “cious.” The stressed syllable is “gra.” The number of syllables in a word determines how it is pronounced. Words with fewer syllables are the easiest to pronounce.
History & Etymology of Gracious
The word “gracious” stems from Old French “gracios.”
Gracious comes from Old French’ gracios,” meaning “courteous, pleasing, kind, or friendly.” It also has roots in Modern French’ gracieux,” and from Latin “gratiosus” meaning “enjoying favor, obliging, agreeable, popular, or acceptable.” This word also has roots in the Latin word “gratia,” meaning merciful or benevolent.
When Was Gracious First Used?
The word “gracious” was first used in the 13th century.
The word first meant “courteous, pleasing, kind, or friendly.” It was also used in the early 12th century to describe “favor, popularity, financial status, or agreeability.” Its application as an exclamation dates back to 1713. Throughout the years, this word has maintained its meaning.
Conclusion
“Gracious” refers to showing natural kindness, agreeability, courtesy, or having easygoing or pleasing manners. It has several other meanings, and it’s even used as an exclamation. Gracious also conventionally describes royalty or people of high nobility.
It is easy to use this word in sentences, as long as you understand its multiple definitions or meanings. Now that you have all the above information about this word, you can start using it in sentences. We are delighted to know that this article has helped you grow your grammar. Keep it here for more.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.