brave

[ breyv ]

/ breɪv /

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See synonyms for: brave / bravest / braves / braving on Thesaurus.com

adjective, brav·er, brav·est.

possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance.

making a fine appearance.

Archaic. excellent; fine; admirable.

noun

the brave. (used with a plural verb) courageous people, collectively: the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Sometimes Offensive. a warrior, especially among North American Indian tribes.

Obsolete.

a bully.
a boast or challenge.

verb (used with object), braved, brav·ing.

to meet or face courageously: to brave misfortunes.

to defy; challenge; dare.

Obsolete. to make splendid.

verb (used without object), braved, brav·ing.

Obsolete. to boast; brag.

OTHER WORDS FOR brave

1 bold, intrepid, daring, dauntless, heroic.

See synonyms for brave on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR brave

1 cowardly.

See antonyms for brave on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

synonym study for brave

1. 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.

usage note for brave

See powwow.

OTHER WORDS FROM brave

brave·ly, adverbbrave·ness, nouno·ver·brave, adjectiveo·ver·brave·ly, adverb

o·ver·brave·ness, nounqua·si-brave, adjectivequa·si-brave·ly, adverbsu·per·brave, adjectivesu·per·brave·ly, adverbsu·per·brave·ness, nounun·brave, adjectiveun·brave·ly, adverbun·brave·ness, nounun·braved, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use brave in a sentence

It is difficult to conceive of a braver woman alive today than Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali vs. the Campus Thought Police|James Kirchick|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I felt so much braver criticizing the religious right when I actually worked for FOX News.
The Tithe Is High: End the GOP Civil War!|Bill Schulz|January 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That was one of Pete's many gifts: he made life more fun and he made all of us who knew him a little braver and better.
Peter Worthington: Cliff Diver|David Frum|May 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
So even though Israelis are painfully aware of the never-ending threats, they're also braver because of them.
Why are the Israelis so Damn Happy?|Tiffanie Wen|April 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Seems like people in dangerous neighborhoods are braver and trust in God more than people in safer neighborhoods-if you ask me.
'Let's Talk About Guns' Live Chat Transcript|David Frum|January 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They do this to perfection; I never saw braver soldiers, in fact, than some of the best of them.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Before he was a soldier, he had been a Methodist class leader; and there was not a braver man in the company.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
It is a far better and braver thing to bear bullying with such a mixture of spirit and good-humour, as in time to disarm it.
Eric, or Little by Little|Frederic W. Farrar
It will be said, Englishmen are braver, more enterprising and skilful, than other people; more thoughtful and long-sighted.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 67, Number 414, April, 1850|Various
He would have given the world to have been a little braver at the time, but it did not occur to him that he might still be brave.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for brave

brave

/ (breɪv) /

adjective

having or displaying courage, resolution, or daring; not cowardly or timid
(as collective noun preceded by the)the brave

fine; splendida brave sight; a brave attempt

archaic excellent or admirable

noun

a warrior of a Native American tribe

an obsolete word for bully 1

verb (tr)

to dare or defyto brave the odds

to confront with resolution or courageto brave the storm

obsolete to make splendid, esp in dress

Derived forms of brave

bravely, adverbbraveness, nounbravery, noun

Word Origin for brave

C15: from French, from Italian bravo courageous, wild, perhaps ultimately from Latin barbarus barbarous

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

brave

OTHER WORDS FOR brave

OPPOSITES FOR brave

Origin of brave

synonym study for brave

usage note for brave

OTHER WORDS FROM brave

Words related to brave

How to use brave in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for brave

Derived forms of brave

Word Origin for brave