Grace: meaning, definitions and examples

💃

Add to dictionary

grace

[ɡreɪs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

beauty

Grace is the elegant and smooth way that someone moves or behaves, which shows beauty and dignity.

Synonyms

elegance, gracefulness, poise.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
grace	Usually used to describe someone's smooth, controlled movements or polite behavior. It can also refer to divine favor. She moved with such grace during her ballet performance They handled the difficult situation with grace
elegance	Often associated with style and sophistication in appearance and manners. It can describe people, objects, or places. Her outfit exuded elegance at the gala The room was decorated with an elegance that impressed everyone
poise	Refers to composure and self-assuredness, especially in difficult situations. It also relates to good manners and being unflustered. She maintained her poise even under intense questioning His poise in public speaking made him a great leader
gracefulness	Focuses more on the beauty of movement and form, often used with dancers or athletes. The gymnast's routine was performed with incredible gracefulness Observing the swans on the lake, one couldn't help but notice their gracefulness

Examples of usage

She danced with such grace and poise.
The swan glided across the lake with grace and ease.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

spiritual

Grace is the unmerited favor and love of God towards humanity, often seen as a blessing or divine assistance.

Synonyms

blessing, divine love, mercy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
grace	Typically used to describe elegance, kindness, or unearned favor received. It is often used in religious and social contexts to refer to a smooth and pleasing way of moving or a characteristic of presenting oneself. She moved with such grace during the dance recital. It was by his grace that we were able to finish the project on time.
blessing	Refers to a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; a prayer asking for divine favor and protection. It is often used in religious contexts but can also be used generally to describe something good that happens. Getting that job was a true blessing. Let's say a blessing before we eat.
mercy	Refers to compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Often used in legal, religious, or moral contexts, typically to describe leniency. She pleaded for mercy when she realized her mistake. The judge showed mercy and gave him a reduced sentence.
divine love	Specifically refers to love that comes from a divine being, such as God. It is often used in religious texts and discussions to describe the pure and unconditional love that a deity has for humans. Many people find comfort in the idea of divine love. Her faith in divine love gave her strength through tough times.

Examples of usage

By the grace of God, we were saved.
She felt the grace of God in her life.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

movement

To grace something means to add beauty or elegance to it.

Synonyms

adorn, decorate, embellish.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
grace	Employ this word when speaking about giving something beauty or elegance, often in a more abstract or refined way. It suggests elegance and poise. She graced the stage with her presence, captivating the audience. His words were graced with wisdom and kindness.
adorn	{"word":"adorn","context":"Use this word to describe the act of adding something decorative or attractive to enhance beauty. It often implies adding ornaments or decorations.","examples":["She adorned the room with beautiful flowers for the celebration.","The walls were adorned with paintings and photographs."]}
decorate	Utilize this word when referring to the act of making something look more attractive by adding items. Commonly used in contexts like interior design or holiday preparations. We decorated the Christmas tree with lights and ornaments. He decorated his new apartment with modern furniture and art.
embellish	This word often means to add decorative details, sometimes with a sense of exaggeration or making something more interesting, but can have a negative connotation when it implies making something overly elaborate or less truthful. She embellished her story with dramatic details to make it more exciting. The fabric was embellished with intricate embroidery.

Examples of usage

The painting was graced with intricate details.
Her presence graced the event.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'gratia', meaning 'favor' or 'thanks', indicating something better than expected.
In medieval times, 'grace' was associated with religious favor, suggesting a divine gift to humans.
The concept also evolved in the Renaissance, emphasizing elegance and beauty in movement and speech.

Religion

In Christianity, grace is seen as God's unearned love and mercy towards people, often associated with salvation.
Many religious practices emphasize the importance of showing grace towards others as a reflection of spiritual teachings.
Grace is a central theme in various texts, conveying the idea of forgiveness and benevolence.

Art

Graceful movements are often a focal point in ballet, where dancers aim to embody beauty and fluidity.
In visual arts, figures depicted with grace often symbolize beauty and harmony, influencing styles across cultures.
Classical architecture often incorporates graceful curves and lines to evoke a sense of beauty in design.

Psychology

Experiencing grace in interactions can evoke positive emotions and strengthen social bonds.
The quality of gracefulness in behavior may reduce stress and create a sense of calm in social situations.
Practicing grace, such as through kindness or patience, can lead to greater emotional resilience.

Sports

In sports like gymnastics and ice skating, athletes strive for grace in movements to impress judges and audiences.
Some sports, such as fencing, emphasize the grace of technique and style, showcasing an artistic aspect of competition.
Graceful performance is often celebrated and remembered as an indicator of skill and mastery in sports.

Translations

Translations of the word "grace" in other languages:

🇵🇹 graça

elegância
favor

🇮🇳 कृपा (kripā)

अनुग्रह (anugrah)
सुंदरता (sundartā)

🇩🇪 Gnade

Anmut
Grazie

🇮🇩 rahmat

anggun
karunia

🇺🇦 благодать

грація
ласка

🇵🇱 łaska

gracja
wdzięk

🇯🇵 恵み (megumi)

優雅 (yūga)
恩恵 (onkei)

🇫🇷 grâce

élégance
faveur

🇪🇸 gracia

elegancia
favor

🇹🇷 zarafet

lütuf
ihsan

🇰🇷 은혜 (eunhye)

우아함 (uaham)
호의 (ho-ui)

🇸🇦 نعمة (ni'ma)

رشاقة (rashaaka)
فضل (fadhil)

🇨🇿 milost

půvab
elegance

🇸🇰 milosť

pôvab
elegancia

🇨🇳 恩典 (ēndiǎn)

优雅 (yōuyǎ)
恩惠 (ēnhuì)

🇸🇮 milost

eleganca
naklonjenost

🇮🇸 náð

þokki
þokka

🇰🇿 мейірім

әсемдік
игілік

🇬🇪 მადლი (madli)

ელეგანტურობა (elegant'uroba)
წყალობა (ts'qaloba)

🇦🇿 lütf

zəriflik
inayət

🇲🇽 gracia

elegancia
favor

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,715, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

...
2712 wisdom
2713 occupation
2714 steady
2715 grace
2716 transactions
2717 admission
2718 surplus
...