courage

1. 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.

Words nearby courage

coupon clipper, couponer, couponing, coupon rate, coup stick, courage, courage of one's convictions, have the, courageous, courant, courante, Courantyne

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

VOCAB BUILDER

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.

Where does courage come from?

The first records of the word courage come from the 1200s. It comes from the Old French corage, from cuer, meaning “heart” (this ultimately derives from the Latin cor, meaning “heart”).

The heart is traditionally depicted as the center of human emotion, and the word heart is commonly used in a figurative way to refer to courage or bravery—someone who has courage is said to have a lot of heart. Being courageous means that even when a situation is dangerous or scary—when it makes your heart start beating very fast—you’re still willing to face it. But courage doesn’t always involve facing danger. Something as simple as telling the truth when it will result in negative consequences can be courageous.

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What are some other forms related to courage?

courageous (adjective)
courageously (adverb)

What are some synonyms for courage?

What are some words that share a root or word element with courage?

What are some words that often get used in discussing courage?

How is courage used in real life?

Courage is always used positively. It’s associated with heroic people and actions—like firefighters running into burning buildings to save people—but it can be used in many different situations.

Bravery is having the courage to confront something that is difficult & dangerous.

Right now, countless medical professionals are taking care of people suffering from coronavirus.

Their bravery in the face of adversity is inspirational. Please thank them.

May God protect them.

— Dr. Craig Considine (@CraigCons) March 16, 2020

D-Day … I can't imagine the courage that took. Thank you for saving the world from fascism.

— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) June 6, 2019

“The truth is inside of us, and it’s wonderful when we have the courage to tell it.” pic.twitter.com/15e6rNhUCJ

— MisterRogersQuotes (@MisterRogersSay) October 2, 2020

Try using courage!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of courage?

A. bravery
B. resoluteness
C. timidity
D. valor

Example sentences from the Web for courage

When she finally mustered up the courage to look, she felt frightened and humiliated.
Deepfake porn is ruining women’s lives. Now the law may finally ban it|Karen Hao|February 12, 2021|MIT Technology Review
We celebrate them by acting with courage and compassion, by doing what is right and just, for while we honor them today, it is they who every day honor us.
Amanda Gorman clearly has talent. But there’s more to her meteoric rise.|Nneka McGuire|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
It took up a couple weeks to work up the courage to quit, but I did.
The Toxicity of Restaurant Kitchens Is Exactly Why I Never Reported Abuses|Lindsey Danis|February 4, 2021|Eater
We know that true leadership and courage has been demonstrated by workers speaking up, not by CEOs, and Amazon must listen if Amazon wants to be part of the solution, not the problem.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos‘s successor will inherit his challenges|Jay Greene, Cat Zakrzewski|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

I really came to understand who Liz was, and she had more courage than most people have in the world.
How the Creators of HBO's The Lady and the Dale Told a Sensitive Story About a Complicated Trans Trailblazer|Suyin Haynes|February 3, 2021|Time
My wife was talking to her on the phone, and I just kinda found the courage to ask her.
Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll|James Joiner|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The courage of this husband and father is a constant reminder of how much some sacrifice for exercising universal rights.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The highest form of political courage is doing the right thing when the mob is against it.
Rubio’s Embargo Anger Plays to the Past|Michael Tomasky|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Absolutely: “Courage I would rank now in the hierarchy of art and love.”
Mailer’s Letters Pack a Punch and a Surprising Degree of Sweetness|Ronald K. Fried|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is the will of the people; the resolve of the political class; the courage of the media; and the authority of the courts.
The U.S. Will Torture Again—and We’re All to Blame|Michael Tomasky|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is only just to say, that the officers exhibited a degree of courage far beyond any thing we had expected from them.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
To be wiser than other men is to be honester than they; and strength of mind is only courage to see and speak the truth.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
The look of distress had vanished, and his sincere eyes seemed to shine again with courage and with strength.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Such mutual distrust necessarily creates or accompanies a lack of moral courage.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Again, she was present at the battle of Silan, where her heroic example of courage infused new life into her brother rebels.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for courage

courage

/ (ˈkʌrɪdʒ) /

noun

the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain, etc

the courage of one's convictions the confidence to act in accordance with one's beliefs

take one's courage in both hands to nerve oneself to perform an action

obsolete mind; disposition; spirit

Word Origin for courage

C13: from Old French corage, from cuer heart, from Latin cor

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

Idioms and Phrases with courage

courage

In addition to the idiom beginning with courage

courage of one's convictions, have the

also see:

Dutch courage
pluck up (one's courage)

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courage

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