graciously

G2R1A1C3I1O1U1S1L1Y4
/ˈɡɹeɪʃəsli/

adverb

In a gracious manner; with grace and courtesy.

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Less commonScrabble 16Word of the Day · Apr 4, 2026

Meanings

adverbgraciously (comparative more graciously, superlative most graciously)

comparative more graciously · superlative most graciously

  1. In a gracious manner; with grace and courtesy.

    The lady of his heart was his partner in the dance, and smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous oglings[…]

    1820, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
    3 more examples

    At this moment Lord Meersbrook stopped at Lady Anne's stand, and took out his pocket-book, on which, though much fluttered, she smiled most graciously, saying, "Thank you, my lord, I am most happy to see you, you are going to bring me good fortune. Here are purses, my lord, card-cases, pincushions———"

    1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXXIX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 196

    Why, there has gone already to Rome a messenger to crave a second dispensation from his Popeship, and the King himself hath signed the request, praying that you and I should graciously be permitted to wed!

    1905, Samuel Rutherford Crockett, May Margaret: called "the fair maid of Galloway," - Page 184

    Now that he was next in line to the minister of state security himself, an 82 year old man whose dodderings Fang graciously covered up to save everyone's face, Fang had a huge problem.

    2001, Seth Kohn, Escape on the Silk Road, page 7

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbin a gracious or graceful manner

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Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishgraciously
  2. Englishgraciously

From Middle English graciously, graciousliche; equivalent to gracious + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

graciously. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/graciously

MLA

“graciously.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/graciously. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “graciously,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/graciously.

Source: graciously on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.