diff --git a/docs/source/settings.rst b/docs/source/settings.rst
index 4d74d3f02..2a76aa1b7 100644
--- a/docs/source/settings.rst
+++ b/docs/source/settings.rst
@@ -185,9 +185,9 @@ graceful_timeout
 
 Timeout for graceful workers restart.
 
-Generally set to thirty seconds. How max time worker can handle
-request after got restart signal. If the time is up worker will
-be force killed.
+After receiving a restart signal, workers have this much time to finish
+serving requests. Workers still alive after the timeout (starting from
+the receipt of the restart signal) are force killed.
 
 keepalive
 ~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/gunicorn/config.py b/gunicorn/config.py
index 61bbd4931..31da7b0ea 100644
--- a/gunicorn/config.py
+++ b/gunicorn/config.py
@@ -681,9 +681,9 @@ class GracefulTimeout(Setting):
     desc = """\
         Timeout for graceful workers restart.
 
-        Generally set to thirty seconds. How max time worker can handle
-        request after got restart signal. If the time is up worker will
-        be force killed.
+        After receiving a restart signal, workers have this much time to finish 
+        serving requests. Workers still alive after the timeout (starting from 
+        the receipt of the restart signal) are force killed.
         """