While both describe something pleasing to the eye and aesthetically pleasing, there's a subtle difference between "elegant" and "graceful." Elegant suggests sophistication and refinement, often with a sense of luxury or high quality. Graceful, on the other hand, emphasizes beauty of movement and fluidity. Think of a dancer's graceful leaps compared to an elegantly designed dress.

Elegant things are often characterized by their simplicity and timeless style. For example, an elegantly designed room might be minimally decorated, but it is also expensive and high quality.
Example: "The actress wore an elegant gown to the premiere." (The dress was sophisticated and stylish.) "The actress wore an elegant gown to the premiere." (Translation: The dress was sophisticated and stylish.)

Graceful things are typically known for their effortless movement. A graceful dancer moves smoothly and fluidly across the stage. Example: "The ballerina executed a graceful arabesque." (Her movement was beautiful and fluid.) "The ballerina executed a graceful arabesque." (Translation: Her movement was beautiful and fluid.)

Sometimes the words can overlap, but noticing the nuances can help you choose the right word for the context. An elegant swan might also be described as graceful because its movement is beautiful, but an elegant car does not move in a graceful way.

Example: "The swan glided gracefully across the lake." (Its movement was fluid and beautiful) "The swan glided gracefully across the lake." (Translation: Its movement was fluid and beautiful.)

Example: "The car's elegant design impressed the judge." (The car's design was sophisticated and stylish) "The car's elegant design impressed the judge." (Translation: The car's design was sophisticated and stylish.)

Happy learning!