grace note

noun

1
: a musical note added as an ornament
especially : appoggiatura
2
: a small addition or embellishment

Examples of grace note in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The gent also knows how to compose for a giant screen, filling set pieces with unexpected grace notes amidst the sound and fury. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024 The menu devotes a section to vegetables, some of which incorporate meat as a grace note. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2024 Seeing guys in their mid-70s start it up again, 45 years after their friend Jackson warned that everybody was running on empty, is a nice grace note to the ultimate liner-note movie. Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Dec. 2023 In the case of The Boys in the Boat, a telling of true events that can feel overly cautious in its admiring distance, the surprises lie in small moments and grace notes. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2023 There are bustling parties, casual family hangouts and some quietly lovely grace notes courtesy of the Bernsteins’ eldest child, Jamie (Maya Hawke). Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023 Other characters may not get the same benefit, but Legacy of Monsters grants them little grace notes as well — a romantic backstory, a quiet moment with a family member. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Nov. 2023 Beharie, both effectively fiery and too frequently forgotten; supporting MVP Pittman, weathering a ludicrous love story opposite Clive Standen; and especially Lee, often adding grace notes of comedy that the series desperately needs, are all exceptional and benefit from this extra level of focus. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2023 Isbell also noted that his mother, Angela Hill Barnett, was in the house on Friday -- a warm grace note that amped up the home-state appeal. Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, al, 25 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grace note.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grace note was circa 1823

Dictionary Entries Near grace note

Cite this Entry

“Grace note.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grace%20note. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

grace note

noun
: a short musical note added before another as an ornament
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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