brave
Americanadjective
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braver,
comparative
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bravest
superlative
noun
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braves
plural
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(used with a plural verb) the brave. courageous people, collectively.
the land of the free and the home of the brave.
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Sometimes Offensive. a warrior, especially among North American Indian tribes.
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Obsolete.
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a bully.
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a boast or challenge.
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verb (used with object)
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braves,
present (3rd person singular)
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braved,
past participle, past
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braving
present participle
verb (used without object)
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braves,
present (3rd person singular)
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braved,
past participle, past
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braving
present participle
adjective
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having or displaying courage, resolution, or daring; not cowardly or timid
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( as collective noun preceded by the )
the brave
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fine; splendid
a brave sight
a brave attempt
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archaic excellent or admirable
noun
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a warrior of a Native American tribe
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an obsolete word for bully 1
verb
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to dare or defy
to brave the odds
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to confront with resolution or courage
to brave the storm
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obsolete to make splendid, esp in dress
Sensitive Note
See powwow.
Synonym Usage
Brave, courageous, valiant, fearless, gallant refer to confident bearing in the face of difficulties or dangers. Brave is the most comprehensive: it is especially used of that confident fortitude or daring that actively faces and endures anything threatening. Courageous implies a higher or nobler kind of bravery, especially as resulting from an inborn quality of mind or spirit that faces or endures perils or difficulties without fear and even with enthusiasm. Valiant implies a correspondence between an inner courageousness and external deeds, particularly of physical strength or endurance. Fearless implies unflinching spirit and coolness in the face of danger. Gallant implies a chivalrous, impetuous, or dashing bravery.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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bravenessnoun
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braverynoun
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overbravenessnoun
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superbravenessnoun
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unbravenessnoun
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overbraveadjective
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quasi-braveadjective
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superbraveadjective
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unbraveadjective
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unbravedadjective
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bravelyadverb
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overbravelyadverb
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quasi-bravelyadverb
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superbravelyadverb
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unbravelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Adjectives
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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bravesimple
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bravessimple
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have bravedperfect
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has bravedperfect
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am bravingprogressive
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are bravingprogressive
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is bravingprogressive
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have been bravingperfect progressive
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has been bravingperfect progressive
Past
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bravedsimple
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had bravedperfect
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was bravingprogressive
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were bravingprogressive
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had been bravingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of brave
First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French, from Spanish bravo, either from Italian or directly from unattested Vulgar Latin brabus for Latin barbarus barbarous
Explanation
Courageous, dauntless, perhaps a little bit daring, a person who is brave faces dangerous or difficult situations with courage. The adjective brave can be used to describe anyone or anything that displays courage, such as a brave firefighter, a brave guide dog, or even brave holiday shoppers. In addition to its adjective form, the word brave can also act as a verb. Use the verb brave when you want to say that someone is facing a dangerous or unpleasant situation courageously: “Only the hardiest skiers were able to brave the icy conditions and complete the course.” Both adjective and verb forms of the word share a common meaning — the sense of having courage or acting fearlessly.
Vocabulary lists containing brave
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act I
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Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 1
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Native American History - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Nourmohammadi described those targeted as "young, brave Iranians -- the best of Iranians".
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
The couple said they have put on a brave face to the outside world but were left with only their memories.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
“They were incredibly brave to speak up against union leadership on this issue,” Tamer said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Sushila Karki, who led Nepal as interim prime minister after Oli's government was overthrown, paid tribute to "all the brave individuals who lost their lives".
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
I think that’s why I was brave enough to say it.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
The Citi Field crowd will surely welcome them warmly—if anyone braves near-freezing temperatures in New York that night to watch them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
After a frankly weird hero’s journey in which she braves stormy seas and faces execution by the Seraphites, Ellie makes it to the abandoned aquarium to find Abby.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2025
Hansi Flick's - predominantly - young braves were confirmed as La Liga champions with a 2-0 win at Espanyol on Thursday, having already won the Copa del Rey in April.
From BBC ● May 15, 2025
Pity the poor pedestrian who braves Seattle’s sidewalks.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2021
Muhammad braves that one pretty well against the reds from Michigan, the yellows from Ohio, the purples from Minnesota, the oranges from Iowa, and the greens from Indiana.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Still, she imposed what Norman Podhoretz called an “inordinate demand”: that Jews under Hitler be braver and nobler than ordinary people could be expected to be when murderers held all the power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
We saw braver mid-blocks and, at times, teams pressing higher.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
"If we want to make the change we were sent into government to make, we have to be braver," the Manchester MP added.
From Barron's ● Feb. 27, 2026
As usual, they are much braver when their names aren’t attached to their opinions.
From Salon ● Jan. 23, 2026
Mary was braver and more ruthless than most.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
"The bravest boys in Britain" is how the Daily Star describes the sons of police constable Matthew Blades, who was killed in the A66 fatal crash.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
He is the loudest possible proof that you do not need a gun to be the bravest man on the hill.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
And when our best and bravest citizens are pushed to obey orders that they sense are wrong, the injury is compounded.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025
It’s the bravest step, Moore says, because it requires self-compassion.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 2, 2025
"You," he said, putting his arms around her and promising himself that it wouldn't be the last time, "are the bravest person I know."
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
Tens of thousands of people have braved heavy rain as they arrived at the Reading Festival on its first day.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Further west in the US, millions of Americans already braved the heat.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Crowds braved record heat to attend US President Donald Trump's grand July Fourth celebrations in Washington Saturday, until sharp winds, thunder and lightning prompted evacuations and the scene descended into chaos, anger and confusion.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
The Battle of Karbala took place in what is now Iraq, and for the few hundred residents who braved a shaky ceasefire to return to this city, it has never felt closer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
There were memoirs by Arctic explorers, fearless mountaineers, and deep-sea divers who braved the briny deep wearing those newfangled diving costumes.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
But either way, there’s no braving this journey alone.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
Scotland fans have arrived in American's Sunshine State in their thousands, braving extremely hot temperatures.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
She goes from wanting to be a trophy wife with nothing to do, to braving a world that isn’t built for her, dressing and acting like she already has a seat at the table.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
"Most people have this image of an intrepid explorer braving an isolated mountain or some other remote place, and stumbling across a creature that no one has ever seen before," Chan said.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 9, 2026
The quiet was profound except for the incessant buzzing of insects and the occasional chirrup of some hardy bird, braving the midday sun.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
