adjective B1 Intermediate Uncommon

graceful

GRAYS-fuul

Graceful (adjective) means moving or shaped in a smooth, elegant way. Example: “The dancer crossed the stage with graceful, flowing movements.”

adjective

Moving or shaped in a smooth, elegant way.

"The dancer crossed the stage with graceful, flowing movements."

"The bridge has a graceful arch that curves over the river."

Handling a difficult situation with dignity, humility, and good manners.

"She gave a graceful concession speech after losing the election."

"He made a graceful exit rather than causing a scene."

Happening smoothly and without sudden disruption.

"The software update was designed for a graceful shutdown of all running programs."

How to use graceful

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSmooth, elegant, or dignified — whether describing how a body moves or how a person behaves under pressure.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with gracious, which is about being warm and courteous rather than elegant or dignified.

Easily confused with

gracious →

Common pairings

graceful movement graceful exit graceful degradation age gracefully

Word forms

more graceful comparative, most graceful superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The dancer crossed the stage with _____, flowing movements.

Etymology

From Middle English graceful, built from grace plus the suffix -ful ("full of").

Origin: Middle English

Antonyms

graceless clumsy

Related words

abandoned awkward clever skilled clumsy graceless godless unskilled

Rhymes for graceful

useful woeful eyeful careful hopeful hateful fateful grateful spiteful forceful wasteful vengeful

See all rhymes for graceful →

Frequently asked questions

What does “graceful” mean?

The word “graceful” means moving or shaped in a smooth, elegant way. In plain terms, smooth, elegant, or dignified — whether describing how a body moves or how a person behaves under pressure.

How do you pronounce “graceful”?

“Graceful” is pronounced GRAYS-fuul (/ˈɡɹeɪsfʊl/ in IPA).

How do you use “graceful” in a sentence?

Here is “graceful” used in a sentence: “The dancer crossed the stage with graceful, flowing movements.”

What is the opposite of “graceful”?

The opposite of “graceful” — its antonyms — are graceless and clumsy.

What part of speech is “graceful”?

“Graceful” is an adjective.

Where does the word “graceful” come from?

The word “graceful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English graceful, built from grace plus the suffix -ful ("full of").

Is “graceful” a common word?

“Graceful” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “graceful” have?

“Graceful” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: moving or shaped in a smooth, elegant way.

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abandoned awkward clever skilled clumsy graceless godless unskilled