What does "grace" mean?
Charming, pleasing qualities.
Grace
/ɡɹeɪs/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Charming, pleasing qualities.
- Grammar: grace is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: blessing, ability, absolution, acciaccatura.
- Useful contrasts: awkwardness, chastisement, clumsiness.
- Usage evidence: From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
How to use "grace"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "grace" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "grace" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "grace" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "grace" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "grace" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "blessing" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "grace", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Charming, pleasing qualities. countable, uncountable
"The Princess brought grace to an otherwise dull and boring party."
- 2 a disposition to kindness and compassion wordnet
- 3 A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal. countable
"It has become less common to say grace before having dinner."
- 4 (Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God wordnet
- 5 In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules. countable
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 a sense of propriety and consideration for others wordnet
- 7 A grace note. countable
"The Trill being the most usual Grace, is usually made in Closes, Cadences, and when on a long Note Exclamation or Passion is expressed, there the Trill is made in the latter part of such Note; but most usually upon binding Notes and such Notes as precede the closing Note."
- 8 elegance and beauty of movement or expression wordnet
- 9 Elegant movement; elegance of movement; balance or poise. uncountable
"The dancer moved with grace and strength."
- 10 a short prayer of thanks before a meal wordnet
- 11 An allowance of time granted to a debtor during which he or she is free of at least part of his normal obligations towards the creditor. uncountable
"The repayment of the loan starts after a three-year grace."
- 12 (Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors wordnet
- 13 Free and undeserved favour, especially of God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin. uncountable
"Near-synonyms: Divine Providence, Providence"
- 14 (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence wordnet
- 15 An act or decree of the governing body of an English university. countable, uncountable
- 16 a period of time past the deadline for fulfilling an obligation during which a penalty that would be imposed for being late is waived, especially an extended period granted as a special favor wordnet
- 17 Mercy, pardon. archaic, countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify. transitive
"He graced the room with his presence."
- 2 make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc. wordnet
- 3 To dignify or raise by an act of favour; to honour. transitive
"He might, at his pleasure, grace […]or disgrace whom he would in court."
- 4 be beautiful to look at wordnet
- 5 To supply with heavenly grace. transitive
"Thy first publique miracle graceth a marriage"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to. transitive
"For D and E, the G and A fingers are generally used for gracing, though E is sometimes more conveniently graced by F#."
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name from English. countable
"To The Handsome Mistress Grace Potter: As is your name, so is your comely face / Touch'd everywhere with such a diffused grace /"
- 2 Acronym of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
"Since the Tibetan plateau contains a lot of “closed” catchments, from which meltwater cannot easily escape, large amounts of melting could happen without GRACE detecting them."
- 3 A surname. countable
- 4 A placename in the United States:; A minor city in Caribou County, Idaho. countable, uncountable
- 5 A placename in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Kentucky. countable, uncountable
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A placename in the United States:; A census-designated place and unincorporated community in Issaquena County, Mississippi. countable, uncountable
- 7 A placename in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Carroll County, Missouri. countable, uncountable
- 8 A placename in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Laclede County, Missouri. countable, uncountable
- 9 A placename in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Silver Bow County, Montana. countable, uncountable
- 10 A placename in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Hampshire County, West Virginia. countable, uncountable
- 11 A placename in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Roane County, West Virginia. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "grace"?
Common synonyms include: blessing, ability, absolution, acciaccatura, acknowledgment, acquired taste.
How do you use "grace" in a sentence?
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
How do you pronounce "grace"?
Pronounced /ɡɹeɪs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English grace, from Old French grace (modern French grâce), from Latin grātia (“kindness, favour, esteem”), from grātus (“pleasing”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- (“to praise, welcome”); compare grateful. The word displaced the native Middle English held, hield (“grace”) (from Old English held, hyld (“grace”)), Middle English este (“grace, favour, pleasure”) (from Old English ēst (“grace, kindness, favour”)), Middle English athmede(n) (“grace”) (from Old English ēadmēdu (“grace”)), Middle English are, ore (“grace, mercy, honour”) (from Old English ār (“honour, grace, kindness, mercy”)).
Etymology 2
From the noun grace, first used by Puritans in the 16th century. In Roman Catholic use it may refer to Our Lady of Graces, cognate with Italian Grazia.