grace
gb/ɡɹˈeɪs/ us/ɡɹˈeɪs/
A2
English
~ 4100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
property
1
Elegance in movement or behavior
A beautiful and easy way of moving or acting.
Usage pattern:
[someone] moves with grace
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'grace' with 'graceful'; 'grace' is the noun, 'graceful' is the adjective.
Synonyms
elegance (Focuses more on style and refinement, not only movement.)
|
poise (Emphasizes self-control and composure, often in social situations.)
Antonyms
awkwardness (Lack of smooth or coordinated movement.)
Collocations
move with grace
|full of grace
|grace and charm
|grace and dignity
Themes
appearance
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She danced across the stage with grace.
- He handled the difficult question with grace and confidence.
- The cat leapt from the fence with natural grace.
Learner examples
- The girl walks with grace.
- The bird flies with grace.
- He speaks with grace and calm.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Unearned kindness or goodwill
Kindness or help given freely to someone who may not deserve it.
Usage pattern:
[someone] gives [someone] grace
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'grace period' meaning extra time; here it means kindness.
Synonyms
mercy (Often used in contexts involving forgiveness for wrongdoing.)
|
favor (General term for kindness or help, not always undeserved.)
Antonyms
harshness (Lack of kindness or leniency.)
Collocations
act of grace
|show grace
|extend grace
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher showed grace by giving him another chance.
- She accepted his apology with grace.
- It was an act of grace to forgive such an insult.
Learner examples
- The man gave grace to his enemy.
- She showed grace to the late student.
- He forgave her with grace.
Noun
B1
quantity
3
Extra time before deadline or penalty
Extra time given to finish something before there is a punishment or problem.
Synonyms
extension (General term for more time given for a task.)
Antonyms
deadline (The final time by which something must be done without extension.)
Collocations
grace period
|ten-day grace period
Themes
business
|daily life
|time
|law
Examples
- You have a five-day grace period to pay your bill.
- The library offers a two-day grace period for returning books.
- They gave us a short grace period before starting the project.
Learner examples
- We have a one-day grace period to pay.
- The bank gives a grace period for payment.
- The teacher gives a grace period for homework.
Noun
A2
action
4
Prayer before eating food
A short prayer to thank God before eating.
Synonyms
blessing (A prayer asking for divine favor; in this context, for food.)
Collocations
say grace
|offer grace
Themes
religion
|daily life
|food_drink
Examples
- We always say grace before dinner.
- Grandfather offered the grace at the wedding meal.
- They paused to say grace before starting lunch.
Learner examples
- We say grace before we eat.
- He says grace at dinner.
- They say grace at lunch.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
5
God's freely given favor in Christianity
In Christianity, God's free gift of love and help to people.
Synonyms
blessing (A positive gift from God, though 'grace' refers more specifically to unearned favor.)
Collocations
God's grace
|state of grace
Themes
religion
Examples
- She believed she was saved by God's grace.
- They prayed for the grace to forgive others.
- Living in a state of grace is central to their faith.
Learner examples
- Christians believe in God's grace.
- They thank God for His grace.
- We pray for God's grace.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grace
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈeɪs/
US/ɡɹˈeɪs/
Syllables & stress
grace (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (grace)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: grace
- Plural: grace, graces
Word family
Forms
graces
noun
Core family
Related words
gracefulness
noun C1
graciousness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
disgracefully
adverb
gracelessly
adverb
Expressions
by the grace of God
1/bˈaɪ ðə ɡɹˈeɪs əv ɡˈɑd/
fixed phrase
formal
Because of God's will or blessing
Because God has helped or allowed it to happen.
Examples
- By the grace of God, no one was hurt in the accident.
- He survived the war by the grace of God.
in someone's good graces
1/ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz ɡˈʊd ɡɹˈeɪsɪz/
idiom
informal
Favored or approved by someone important
To be liked and approved by someone, often someone with power or influence.
Examples
- He's working hard to stay in his boss's good graces.
- After helping her move, he was back in her good graces.
say grace
1/sˈeɪ ɡɹˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
Pray before a meal
To say a short prayer before eating to thank God for the food.
Examples
- We usually say grace before dinner at home.
- The children bowed their heads to say grace.
with good grace
1/wˈɪθ ɡˈʊd ɡɹˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
Do something willingly and politely
To do something in a willing and polite way without complaining.
Examples
- She accepted the criticism with good grace.
- He took on the extra work with good grace.
fall from grace
1/fˈɔl fɹˈʌm ɡɹˈeɪs/
idiom
Lose respect or status suddenly
To lose people's respect because you did something wrong or failed at something important.
Examples
- The politician fell from grace after the scandal.
- The politician fell from grace after the corruption scandal.
- Once a star athlete, he fell from grace due to doping charges.
- The article described the singer's dramatic fall from grace.