gracefulness
gb/ɡɹˈeɪsfəlnəs/ us/ɡɹˈeɪsfəlnəs/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
property
1
smooth, elegant movement
moving in a beautiful, smooth way
Usage pattern:
the gracefulness of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse gracefulness (smooth movement) with graciousness (kind politeness).
Synonyms
grace (More general; can refer to movement, manner, or style.)
|
elegance (Often emphasizes refined beauty as well as movement.)
|
poise (Highlights controlled, balanced movement.)
Antonyms
clumsiness (Lack of smooth control; awkward movement.)
|
awkwardness (Movement that looks uncomfortable or uncoordinated.)
Collocations
move with gracefulness
|dance with gracefulness
|natural gracefulness
|the gracefulness of a ballerina
|effortless gracefulness
|athletic gracefulness
|quiet gracefulness
|remarkable gracefulness
|a sense of gracefulness
|gracefulness and balance
Themes
body
|sports
|dance
|appearance
Examples
- The skater’s gracefulness made even the hardest jumps look effortless.
- Despite the uneven ground, she walked with surprising gracefulness.
- He admired the cat’s gracefulness as it leaped onto the fence.
Learner examples
- Her gracefulness is beautiful to watch.
- He moved with gracefulness across the stage.
Noun
C1
property
2
poise in behavior and manner
staying calm and polite, even in a hard situation
Usage pattern:
gracefulness in [a situation]
Common mistake:
Gracefulness is about poise and ease; it is not the same as being "grateful" or "gracious" (kind and generous).
Synonyms
composure (Focuses on staying calm and controlled.)
|
poise (Suggests confident self-control in manner and presence.)
|
dignity (Emphasizes self-respect and seriousness, sometimes more formal.)
Antonyms
rudeness (Lack of polite, considerate behavior.)
|
panic (Loss of calm control in a difficult moment.)
Collocations
handle it with gracefulness
|accept with gracefulness
|respond with gracefulness
|gracefulness under pressure
|quiet gracefulness
|social gracefulness
|emotional gracefulness
|gracefulness in defeat
|gracefulness in conversation
|dignity and gracefulness
Themes
social
|emotions
|communication
Examples
- She spoke with gracefulness even when the discussion turned hostile.
- He accepted the criticism with gracefulness and asked what he could improve.
- Their gracefulness during the crisis reassured everyone in the room.
Learner examples
- Try to answer with gracefulness.
- He showed gracefulness when he lost.
Noun
C1
property
3
elegant beauty in style
a simple, elegant kind of beauty
Usage pattern:
the gracefulness of [something]
Common mistake:
In this sense, gracefulness refers to style or design; it does not mean "grace" in a religious sense.
Synonyms
elegance (The closest synonym; often more common in art and design contexts.)
|
refinement (Highlights careful, tasteful quality rather than beauty alone.)
|
beauty (Broader and less specific about simplicity and control.)
Antonyms
gaudiness (Showy in a tasteless way; the opposite of refined simplicity.)
|
ugliness (General lack of beauty or pleasing form.)
Collocations
architectural gracefulness
|the gracefulness of the lines
|gracefulness and simplicity
|a sense of gracefulness
|visual gracefulness
|the gracefulness of the design
|subtle gracefulness
|formal gracefulness
|gracefulness of the prose
|the gracefulness of the melody
Themes
art
|design
|literature
Examples
- The gracefulness of the building comes from its clean lines and open space.
- Critics praised the gracefulness of her writing style.
- The room’s gracefulness depended on its simple colors and balanced layout.
Learner examples
- I like the gracefulness of this design.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gracefulness
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈeɪsfəlnəs/
US/ɡɹˈeɪsfəlnəs/
Syllables & stress
grace - ful - ness (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (grace)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gracefulness
- Plural: gracefulness
Word family
Core family
Related words
gracious
adjective B1
graciously
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
graciousness
noun
gracelessness
noun
Expressions
age with grace
1/ˈeɪd͡ʒ wˈɪθ ɡɹˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
stay dignified while aging
to get older but still look and act good
Examples
- She has aged with grace, keeping the same warm confidence.
- He’s determined to age with grace instead of chasing every new trend.
- Many people admire how the actor has aged with grace.
carry yourself with grace
1/kˈɛɹi jʊɹsˈɛlf wˈɪθ ɡɹˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
present yourself with poise
to look and act calm and elegant
Examples
- She carries herself with grace on and off the stage.
- Even in casual clothes, he carries himself with grace.
- With practice, you can carry yourself with grace in public speaking.
grace under pressure
1/ɡɹˈeɪs ˈʌndɚ pɹˈɛʃɚ/
fixed phrase
calmness in difficult situations
staying calm when things are hard
Examples
- The team leader showed grace under pressure during the outage.
- Her grace under pressure impressed the entire board.
- He managed the interview with real grace under pressure.
move with grace
1/mˈuv wˈɪθ ɡɹˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
move smoothly and elegantly
to move in a beautiful, smooth way
Examples
- The dancers moved with grace across the floor.
- Even after the injury, she still moved with grace.
- The horse moved with grace and power.
with grace
1/wˈɪθ ɡɹˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
in a calm, elegant way
in a calm and polite way
Examples
- She accepted the apology with grace.
- He handled the sudden change of plans with grace.
- Try to lose with grace, not anger.