adjective
Uncommon
gracious
GRAY-shuhs
Gracious (adjective) means Warm, polite, and considerate toward others, especially in a way that shows good manners. Example: “Our host was gracious enough to let us stay an extra night.”
adjective
1
Warm, polite, and considerate toward others, especially in a way that shows good manners.
"Our host was gracious enough to let us stay an extra night."
"She was gracious in defeat, congratulating her opponent warmly."
2
Elegant and comfortable, often describing a lifestyle or surroundings.
"The old manor house was known for its gracious living."
interjection
1
Used to express surprise, shock, or mild frustration.
""Good gracious!" she exclaimed when she saw the mess."
How to use gracious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWarm, polite, and generous in manner — the kind of person who makes others feel welcome and respected.
Common mistake
Don't mix up with graceful — gracious is about kindness and manners, graceful is about elegant movement or handling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
gracious host
gracious in defeat
gracious living
good gracious
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more gracious
- Superlative
- most gracious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our host was _____ enough to let us stay an extra night.
Etymology
From Old French gracieus, from Latin gratiosus ("agreeable, obliging"), from gratia ("favor, esteem") — the same root as grace.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
ungracious
Related words
Rhymes for gracious
See all rhymes for gracious →Frequently asked questions
What does “gracious” mean?
The word “gracious” means warm, polite, and considerate toward others, especially in a way that shows good manners. In plain terms, warm, polite, and generous in manner — the kind of person who makes others feel welcome and respected.
How do you pronounce “gracious”?
“Gracious” is pronounced GRAY-shuhs (/ˈɡɹeɪʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “gracious” in a sentence?
Here is “gracious” used in a sentence: “Our host was gracious enough to let us stay an extra night.”
What part of speech is “gracious”?
Depending on how it is used, “gracious” can be an adjective and an interjection.
Where does the word “gracious” come from?
The word “gracious” comes from Latin. From Old French gracieus, from Latin gratiosus ("agreeable, obliging"), from gratia ("favor, esteem") — the same root as grace.
Is “gracious” a common word?
“Gracious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gracious” have?
“Gracious” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: warm, polite, and considerate toward others, especially in a way that shows good manners.
What is the difference between "gracious" and "graceful"?
"Gracious" describes warm, polite, and considerate behavior toward others, while "graceful" describes elegance of movement or physical form. The two words are often confused because they look similar, but "gracious" is about manners and kindness, whereas "graceful" is about poise.
What does "good gracious" mean as an interjection?
"Good gracious" uses "gracious" as an interjection to express surprise, shock, or mild frustration, similar to saying "good grief" or "goodness." It is a mild, old-fashioned exclamation rather than a description of someone's manners.
What is the difference between "gracious" and "polite"?
"Polite" simply means observing good manners, while "gracious" implies a warmer, more generous consideration toward others that goes beyond basic politeness. "Gracious" can also describe an elegant, comfortable lifestyle or surroundings, a sense "polite" does not carry.
