Grace vs. Gift: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 24, 2023
"Grace" refers to elegance, favor, or a divine blessing, while a "Gift" is a present or something given voluntarily without payment.
Key Differences
1. "Grace" and "Gift" are words that possess deep meanings, often intertwined in literature and spiritual contexts. While "Grace" embodies elegance, favor, or blessings, especially of a divine nature, a "Gift" straightforwardly denotes an item or favor given willingly to someone without expecting anything in return.
2. "Grace" has a multi-dimensional meaning. It can be perceived as a refined quality, often associated with movements or behaviors. It is also seen as unmerited favor, particularly in religious contexts, denoting divine assistance or blessings. Conversely, a "Gift" is more tangible and defined, often signifying a material or non-material offering presented to show appreciation, love, or kindness.
3. "Grace" is also a term used in performing arts to describe fluidity and beauty. Dancers move with "Grace," capturing the audience's attention with their poised elegance. A "Gift," in other contexts, signifies innate talent or ability. For instance, someone might have a "Gift" for music, meaning a natural talent.
4. Both words find resonance in interpersonal relationships. One may extend "Grace" to another by showing forgiveness or understanding. At the same time, offering a "Gift" is a gesture that solidifies bonds, symbolizing affection or gratitude.
5. In essence, while "Grace" often speaks to qualities, blessings, or undeserved favor, a "Gift" is more straightforward, representing a tangible or intangible offering given voluntarily.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Elegance, favor, or divine blessing
A present or something given without payment
Nature
Abstract, quality, or blessing
Tangible or intangible offering
Contextual Use
Often in religious or aesthetic contexts
Common in social contexts, birthdays, holidays, and celebrations
Inherent vs. Bestowed
Can be an inherent quality or bestowed favor
Typically bestowed upon someone
Value
Often seen as immeasurable, spiritual, or emotional
Can be material, monetary, or emotional in value
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Grace and Gift Definitions
Grace
Divine assistance or favor bestowed upon humans.
By the grace of God, he recovered from his illness.
Gift
The act of giving.
The gift of the painting was a grand gesture.
Grace
Elegance or beauty of form or movement.
The dancer moved with unparalleled grace.
Gift
Something given voluntarily without payment in return.
He gave her a gift for her birthday.
Grace
A short prayer of thanks before a meal.
They bowed their heads for grace before eating.
Gift
A natural ability or talent.
Her voice is truly a gift.
Grace
Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
Gift
Something bestowed or acquired without being sought or earned.
His photographic memory was a rare gift.
Grace
A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
Gift
Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation
I received several gifts for my birthday. Your gift of $100 is greatly appreciated.
Grace
A sense of fitness or propriety.
Gift
The act of giving
The painting came into their possession by gift.
Grace
A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
Gift
A talent, endowment, aptitude, or inclination
She has a gift for playing the piano.
Grace
Mercy; clemency.
Gift
To present something as a gift to
Gifted his niece with a watch.
Grace
A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
Gift
To give as a gift
"King Charles II ... had gifted the land of Carolina to certain members of his court" (Marilyn Yalom).
Grace
A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
Gift
To endow with
Nature has gifted her with a fine voice.
Grace
Graces Greek & Roman Mythology Three sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.
Gift
Something given to another voluntarily, without charge.
Grace
Divine favor bestowed freely on people, as in granting redemption from sin.
Gift
A talent or natural ability.
She had a gift for playing the flute.
Grace
The state of having received such favor.
Gift
Something gained incidentally, without effort.
Grace
An excellence or power granted by God.
Gift
The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing.
The office is in the gift of the President.
Grace
A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.
Gift
(transitive) To give as a gift or donation.
Grace
Grace Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.
Gift
(transitive) To give away, to concede easily.
Grace
(Music) An appoggiatura, trill, or other musical ornament in the music of 16th and 17th century England.
Gift
Anything given; anything voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a present; an offering.
Shall I receive by gift, what of my own, . . .I can command ?
Grace
To honor or favor
You grace our table with your presence.
Gift
The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing; as, the office is in the gift of the President.
Grace
To give beauty, elegance, or charm to.
Gift
A bribe; anything given to corrupt.
Neither take a gift, for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise.
Grace
(Music) To embellish with grace notes.
Gift
Some exceptional inborn quality or characteristic; a striking or special talent or aptitude; power; faculty; as, the gift of wit; a gift for speaking.
Grace
Charming, pleasing qualities.
The Princess brought grace to an otherwise dull and boring party.
Gift
A voluntary transfer of real or personal property, without any consideration. It can be perfected only by deed, or in case of personal property, by an actual delivery of possession.
Grace
(countable) A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.
It has become less common to say grace before having dinner.
Gift
To endow with some power or faculty. See gift{4}.
He was gifted . . . with philosophical sagacity.
Grace
In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
Gift
Something acquired without compensation
Grace
A grace note.
Gift
Natural qualities or talents
Grace
(uncountable) Elegant movement; balance or poise.
The dancer moved with grace and strength.
Gift
The act of giving
Grace
An allowance of time granted to a debtor during which he or she is free of at least part of his normal obligations towards the creditor.
The repayment of the loan starts after a three-year grace.
Gift
Give qualities or abilities to
Grace
Free and undeserved favour, especially of God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin.
Gift
Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?
Grace
An act or decree of the governing body of an English university.
Gift
A special power or ability.
The seer claimed to have the gift of prophecy.
Grace
(transitive) To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
He graced the room with his presence.
He graced the room by simply being there.
His portrait graced a landing on the stairway.
Grace
(transitive) To dignify or raise by an act of favour; to honour.
Grace
(transitive) To supply with heavenly grace.
Grace
To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
Grace
The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.
To bow and sue for graceWith suppliant knee.
Grace
The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works.
My grace is sufficicnt for thee.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.
Grace
The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as pardon.
Grace
Fortune; luck; - used commonly with hard or sorry when it means misfortune.
Grace
Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.
He is complete in feature and in mind.With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
I have formerly given the general character of Mr. Addison's style and manner as natural and unaffected, easy and polite, and full of those graces which a flowery imagination diffuses over writing.
Grace
Beauty, physical, intellectual, or moral; loveliness; commonly, easy elegance of manners; perfection of form.
Grace in women gains the affections sooner, and secures them longer, than any thing else.
I shall answer and thank you again For the gift and the grace of the gift.
Grace
Graceful and beautiful females, sister goddesses, represented by ancient writers as the attendants sometimes of Apollo but oftener of Venus. They were commonly mentioned as three in number; namely, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, and were regarded as the inspirers of the qualities which give attractiveness to wisdom, love, and social intercourse.
The Graces love to weave the rose.
The Loves delighted, and the Graces played.
Grace
The title of a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England.
How fares your Grace !
Grace
Thanks.
Yielding graces and thankings to their lord Melibeus.
Grace
A petition for grace; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered, before or after a meal.
Grace
Ornamental notes or short passages, either introduced by the performer, or indicated by the composer, in which case the notation signs are called grace notes, appeggiaturas, turns, etc.
Grace
An act, vote, or decree of the government of the institution; a degree or privilege conferred by such vote or decree.
Grace
A play designed to promote or display grace of motion. It consists in throwing a small hoop from one player to another, by means of two sticks in the hands of each. Called also grace hoop or hoops.
That day of grace fleets fast away.
The grace cup follows to his sovereign's health.
To [Queen Margaret, of Scotland] . . . we owe the custom of the grace drink, she having established it as a rule at her table, that whosoever staid till grace was said was rewarded with a bumper.
Content to do the profession some grace.
What might have been done with a good grace would at leastbe done with a bad grace.
Grace
To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
Great Jove and Phoebus graced his noble line.
We are graced with wreaths of victory.
Grace
To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.
He might, at his pleasure, grace or disgrace whom he wouldin court.
Grace
To supply with heavenly grace.
Grace
To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
Grace
(Bhristian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who under such divine influence;
The conception of grace developed alongside the conception of sin
It was debated whether saving grace could be obtained outside the membership of the church
The Virgin lived in a state of grace
Grace
Elegance and beauty of movement or expression
Grace
A sense of propriety and consideration for others
Grace
A disposition to kindness and compassion; benign good will;
The victor's grace in treating the vanquished
Grace
(Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors
Grace
A short prayer of thanks before a meal
Grace
(Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God;
God's grace is manifested in the salvation of sinners
There but for the grace of God go I
Grace
Make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.;
Decorate the room for the party
Beautify yourself for the special day
Grace
Be beautiful to look at;
Flowers adorned the tables everywhere
Grace
An act of kindness, courtesy, or clemency.
He showed grace by forgiving her mistake.
Grace
A period allowed for payment or fulfillment beyond what is due.
The bank gave her a grace period to repay the loan.
FAQs
Can grace be earned?
In religious contexts, grace is often seen as unmerited, but in general life, grace or favor can sometimes be earned through actions.
Is every gift valuable?
While all gifts have some value, their worth can be emotional, spiritual, or material.
Can a gift be intangible?
Yes, gifts can be intangible, such as love, kindness, or advice.
How is grace linked with forgiveness?
Grace can mean showing unmerited favor or kindness, often linked with forgiving someone's shortcomings.
Is grace always religious in context?
No, "Grace" can refer to elegance or poise outside of religious contexts.
What denotes a gift in legal terms?
In legal contexts, a gift is a voluntary transfer of property without consideration or compensation.
Is gracefulness innate or can it be learned?
While some people have inherent grace, others can cultivate it through practice, especially in arts like dance.
How is grace depicted in literature?
In literature, grace often symbolizes divine favor, elegance, or redemption.
Is showing grace a sign of weakness?
No, showing grace, especially in forgiving, is often seen as a strength of character.
Can a gift be taken back?
Ethically, once given, a gift shouldn't be taken back, but there are legal contexts where it might be possible.
How is a gift different from a reward?
A gift is given without expecting something in return, while a reward is typically for a specific action or behavior.
Are all gifts material?
No, gifts can be emotions, talents, or favors, not just material items.
Is grace limited to certain cultures or religions?
While the understanding of grace varies, its concept exists in many cultures and religions.
Can a gift be conditional?
While gifts are generally given without conditions, some may come with attached expectations, though this goes against the general spirit of gifting.
How do grace and gift intersect in spiritual contexts?
In many spiritual traditions, grace is considered a divine gift bestowed upon humanity.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
