From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgraciousgra‧cious /ˈɡreɪʃəs/ adjective 1 POLITEbehaving in a polite, kind, and generous way, especially to people of a lower rank Sibyl was the most gracious, helpful, and generous person to work with. a gracious apology2 EXPENSIVEhaving the kind of expensive style, comfort, and beauty that only rich people can afford a gracious manor house a magazine about gracious living3 → gracious (me)!/good gracious!/goodness gracious!4 RRCKINDa gracious act by or gift from God is kind and forgiving5 [only before noun] used as a polite way of describing a royal person our gracious Queen —graciously adverb —graciousness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
gracious• This should be a gracious and most enjoyable evening.• Physically attractive and possessed of considerable personal charm, his demeanour was self-effacing, gracious and polite.• Predominantly these are gracious dark oils, some by Sir Joshua Reynolds.• He was such a gracious host, it was remarked that in another life he might have run a great hotel.• a gracious hostess• He ducked, he jumped, he danced, he threw hard and was gracious in both victory and defeat.• Of our initial 20 rather withered carnations, 18 were carried off into the distance by bewildered or gracious lasses.• gracious living• a gracious Victorian country homegracious living• An air of gracious living and elegance combines with all modern facilities.• Symbols of gracious living or memories of childhood dreams, popular prints allowed for vicarious experience.• If you would like to combine gracious living with an exciting job then your application to Humberside would be most welcome. 