Phrase guide

fall from grace

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The loss of one's social position, prestige, status, power, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To lose God's favour through sins or wrongdoings.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To fall from one's current social position to something lower, to lose one's prestige, status or power.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, idiomatic

Examples

  • His father fell from grace with the emperor.
  • The cyclist fell from grace because of steroids and lies.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

revert back to bad behavior after a period of good behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The children fell from grace when they asked for several helpings of dessert

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: misbehave, misconduct, misdemean

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: caure en desgràcia — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Finnish: joutua epäsuosioon — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Finnish: menettää suosionsa — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • French: tomber en disgrâce — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • German: in Ungnade fallen — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • German: aus der Gnade fallen — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Italian: cadere in disgrazia — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Korean: 파직하다 (pajikhada) — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Korean: 신임을 잃다 (sinimeul ilta) — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Polish: wypadać z łask — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Polish: wypaść z łask — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Portuguese: cair em desgraça — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Russian: впасть в неми́лость (vpastʹ v nemílostʹ) — to fall from one's current social position to something lower
  • Spanish: caer en desgracia — to fall from one's current social position to something lower