WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
gra•cious /ˈgreɪʃəs/USA pronunciation
adj.
interj.
gra•cious•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- pleasantly kind;
wishing well to others;
courteous:a gracious host. - characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury:gracious suburban living.
interj.
- This word is used to express surprise, relief, dismay, etc.:Gracious! I've lost my purse.
gra•cious•ness, n. [uncountable]
gra•cious
(grā′shəs),USA pronunciation adj.
interj.
gra′cious•ly, adv.
gra′cious•ness, gra•ci•os•i•ty
(grā′shē os′i tē),USA pronunciation n.
- pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.
- characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury:gracious suburban living; a gracious home.
- indulgent or beneficent in a pleasantly condescending way, esp. to inferiors.
- merciful or compassionate:our gracious king.
- [Obs.]fortunate or happy.
interj.
- (used as an exclamation of surprise, relief, dismay, etc.)
- Latin grātiōsus amiable, equivalent. to grāti(a) grace + -ōsus -ous
- Old French
- 1250–1300; Middle English gracious
- 1. benign, friendly, favorable, polite. See kind 1. 4. tender, clement, mild, gentle.
- 1. churlish. 4. cruel.
'graciousness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):