grace

UK: 'grace', 'Grace': /ˈɡreɪs/ US: /greɪs/ ,(grās)

Inflections of 'grace' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

graces

v 3rd person singular

gracing

v pres p

graced

v past

graced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

grace /greɪs/   n., v., graced, grac•ing. 
n. 

1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action:
   [uncountable] She moves with elegance and grace.
2. graceful, appealing, or proper behavior:
   [uncountable* sometimes: the ~s] showed grace under pressure.
   [countable] the social graces.
3. Also, ˈgrace ˌpe•ri•od. a period or allowance of time after a debt is technically payable, but before a penalty will be applied:
   [uncountable] have 30 days' grace.
   [countable] We have a grace period of 30 days.
4. [uncountable] favor or goodwill, or an expression of favor, esp. by a superior.
5. [uncountable] the freely given favor and love of God, esp. when unearned.
6. a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given:
   [uncountable] Let's say grace.
7. [proper noun* Your/His/Her + Grace] a title used in addressing or mentioning a duke, duchess, or archbishop.

v. [~ + object]

8. to lend or add grace to;
   adorn:
   Many paintings graced the walls.
9. to favor or honor:
   [~ + object + with] Will you grace us with your presence?

Idioms

10. Idioms fall from grace, [no object]
    • Idioms to become a wrongdoer;
      sin.
    • Idioms to lose favor with those in power.
11. Idioms in someone's good (or bad) graces, regarded with favor (or disfavor) by someone.
12. Idioms with good (or bad) grace, without (or with) reluctance;
    willingly (or unwillingly):
    congratulated the winner with good grace.

grace•less, adj. 
grace•less•ly, adv. 
grace•less•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

grace  (grās), n., v., graced, grac•ing. 
n. 

1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
3. favor or good will.
4. a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior:
   It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.
5. mercy;
   clemency;
   pardon:
   an act of grace.
6. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
7. an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied:
   The life insurance premium is due today, but we have 31 days' grace before the policy lapses.
   Cf. grace period.
8. [Theol.]
   • Religion the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
   • the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
   • a virtue or excellence of divine origin:
     the Christian graces.
   • Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
9. moral strength:
   the grace to perform a duty.
10. a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given.
11. (usually cap.) a formal title used in addressing or mentioning a duke, duchess, or archbishop, and formerly also a sovereign (usually prec. by your, his, etc.).
12. Mythology Graces, [Class. Myth.] the goddesses of beauty, daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, worshiped in Greece as the Charities and in Rome as the Gratiae.
13. Music and Dance See grace note. 
14. Idioms fall from grace:
    • , Religion, Idioms [Theol.] to relapse into sin or disfavor.
    • Idioms to lose favor;
      be discredited:
      He fell from grace when the boss found out he had lied.
15. Idioms have the grace to, to be so kind as to:
    Would you have the grace to help, please?
16. Idioms in someone's good (or bad) graces, regarded with favor (or disfavor) by someone:
    It is a wonder that I have managed to stay in her good graces this long.
17. Idioms with bad grace, reluctantly;
    grudgingly:
    He apologized, but did so with bad grace.
    Also, with a bad grace. 
18. Idioms with good grace, willingly;
    ungrudgingly:
    She took on the extra work with good grace.

v.t. 

19. to lend or add grace to;
    adorn:
    Many fine paintings graced the rooms of the house.
20. to favor or honor:
    to grace an occasion with one's presence.

• Latin grātia favor, kindness, esteem, derivative of grātus pleasing
• Old French
• Middle English 1125–75

grace′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. attractiveness, charm, gracefulness, comeliness, ease.
• 4. kindness, kindliness, love, benignity; condescension.
• 5. lenity, leniency.
• 19. embellish, beautify, deck, decorate, ornament; enhance, honor.

Antonyms

• 1. ugliness.
• 4. animosity.
• 5. harshness.
• 19. disfigure.

Grace  (grās), n. 

1. Biographical William Russell, 1832–1904, U.S. financier and shipping magnate, born in Ireland: mayor of New York City 1880–88.
2. a female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grace / ɡreɪs/ noun

1. elegance and beauty of movement, form, expression, or proportion
2. a pleasing or charming quality
3. goodwill or favour
4. the granting of a favour or the manifestation of goodwill, esp by a superior
5. a sense of propriety and consideration for others
6. (plural) affectation of manner (esp in the phrase airs and graces)
7. in someone's good graces ⇒ regarded favourably and with kindness by someone
8. mercy; clemency
9. the free and unmerited favour of God shown towards humankind
10. the divine assistance and power given to humankind in spiritual rebirth and sanctification
11. the condition of being favoured or sanctified by God
12. an unmerited gift, favour, etc, granted by God
13. a short prayer recited before or after a meal to invoke a blessing upon the food or give thanks for it
14. a melodic ornament or decoration
15. with bad grace, with a bad grace ⇒ unwillingly or grudgingly
16. with good grace, with a good grace ⇒ willingly or cheerfully

verb

1. (transitive) to add elegance and beauty to: flowers graced the room
2. (transitive) to honour or favour: to grace a party with one's presence
3. to ornament or decorate (a melody, part, etc) with nonessential notes

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old French, from Latin grātia, from grātus pleasing

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Grace / ɡreɪs/ noun

1. preceded by your, his, or her: a title used to address or refer to a duke, duchess, or archbishop

Grace / ɡreɪs/ noun

1. W(illiam) G(ilbert). 1848–1915, English cricketer