courage
Americannoun
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the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.
- Synonyms:
- spirit, pluck, intrepidity, dauntlessness, fearlessness
- Antonyms:
- cowardice
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Obsolete. the heart as the source of emotion.
idioms
noun
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the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain, etc
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the confidence to act in accordance with one's beliefs
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to nerve oneself to perform an action
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obsolete mind; disposition; spirit
Usage
What does courage mean? Courage is the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations involving danger or pain.A close synonym is bravery. Showing courage is often thought of as facing such situations without fear, but it also involves facing them despite fear. In other words, someone who has courage might not be fearless, but they face the dangerous, difficult, or frightening situation anyway.The adjective courageous means having, showing, or done with courage. It can be used to describe people who have courage, or the actions of such people when they face negative situations resolutely. A close synonym is brave.Example: We should all show our appreciation for the courage of our first responders, who face danger every day but still, somehow, decide to show up and put the wellbeing of other people before their own safety.
Related Words
Courage, bravery, valor, bravado refer to qualities of spirit and conduct. Courage permits one to face extreme dangers and difficulties without fear: to take (or lose) courage. Bravery implies true courage with daring and an intrepid boldness: bravery in a battle. Valor implies heroic courage: valor in fighting for the right. Bravado is now usually a boastful and ostentatious pretense of courage or bravery: empty bravado.
Etymology
Origin of courage
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English corage, from Old French, equivalent to cuer “heart” (from Latin cor; heart ) + -age -age
Compare meaning
How does courage compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
She recalls being "torn between fear and courage".
From BBC
“For someone who went to college, heading in a new direction like this is almost like admitting defeat, and it takes a little bit of courage to do that.”
"She leaves behind a legacy of courage that helped change the course of American history," said a statement from the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation, which announced her death.
From BBC
But I hesitated, unsure whether I had the courage to push through Baltimore’s angry mobs, mindful of what might be waiting for us when we gathered at the Barnum Hotel.
From Literature
Breaking the wall of silence between Iran and the rest of the world takes immense courage, given the risk of reprisals by the authorities.
From BBC
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.
