Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - graceful

1. Someone or something that is graceful moves in a smooth and controlled way which is attractive to watch. His movements were so graceful they seemed effortless. ...graceful ballerinas. ADJ • gracefully She stepped gracefully onto the stage. ADV: ADV with v 2. Something that is graceful is attractive because it has a pleasing shape or style. His handwriting, from earliest young manhood, was flowing and graceful. ADJ • gracefully She loved the gracefully high ceiling, with its white-painted cornice. ADV: ADV adj/-ed 3. If a person’s behaviour is graceful, it is polite, kind, and pleasant, especially in a difficult situation. Aubrey could think of no graceful way to escape Corbet’s company... He was charming, cheerful, and graceful under pressure. ADJ • gracefully We managed to decline gracefully. ADV: ADV with v