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View synonyms for hero

hero

1

[ heer-oh ]

noun

, plural he·roes; also he·ros.
  1. a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character: Compare heroine ( def 1 ).

    He became a local hero when he saved the drowning child.

  2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has special achievements, abilities, or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or ideal: Compare heroine ( def 2 ).

    My older sister is my hero.

    Entrepreneurs are our modern heroes.

  3. an animal acknowledged for its courageous acts, devotion to duty, etc.:

    This police dog hero was shot during the apprehension of a suspect.

  4. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc. Compare heroine ( def 3 ).

    Synonyms: star, lead

    Antonyms: heavy, villain

  5. Classical Mythology.
    1. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
    2. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
    3. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
  6. the bread or roll used in making a hero sandwich.


adjective

  1. being or relating to a person or animal noted for special achievements, abilities, or personal qualities, especially bravery or devotion to duty; heroic:

    A hero cat helped a firefighter spot a small child in a burning building.

  2. (in advertising and marketing) especially notable, important, or central:

    Producing new hero content twice a year can help your brand grow.

    Your hero product should be obvious on your website.

verb (used with object)

  1. to praise or treat as special; laud:

    We hero the moms who were writing parenting guides and giving advice to new mothers.

    Over the years, the judging panel has rightly heroed brands championing equal rights.

  2. to bring to attention; highlight:

    These dishes beautifully hero the fresh organic ginger.

Hero

2

[ heer-oh ]

noun

  1. Classical Mythology. a priestess of Aphrodite who drowned herself after her lover Leander drowned while swimming the Hellespont to visit her.
  2. Also He·ron []. Hero of Alexandria, flourished 1st century a.d., Greek scientist.

hero

1

/ ˈhɪərəʊ /

noun

  1. a man distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility, fortitude, etc
  2. a man who is idealized for possessing superior qualities in any field
  3. classical myth a being of extraordinary strength and courage, often the offspring of a mortal and a god, who is celebrated for his exploits
  4. the principal male character in a novel, play, etc
“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


Hero

2

/ ˈhɪərəʊ /

noun

  1. Greek myth a priestess of Aphrodite, who killed herself when her lover Leander drowned while swimming the Hellespont to visit her
“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

Hero

3

/ ˈhɪərəʊ /

noun

  1. Hero1st century1st centuryMGreekSCIENCE: mathematicianTECHNOLOGY: inventor 1st century ad , Greek mathematician and inventor
“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

Hero

/ /

  1. Greek mathematician who wrote on mechanics and invented many water-driven and steam-driven machines. He also developed a formula for determining the area of a triangle.


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Gender Note

In its earliest use, the word hero was applied almost exclusively to a man. The corresponding word heroine was–and still is–reserved for a woman. Hero is still sometimes used to refer specifically to a man: British heroes and heroines. But hero is now considered to be a gender-neutral word, and is also increasingly used to refer to a woman: a list of American heroes; Joan of Arc, a French hero. In the sense "the principal character in a story, play, etc.," a hero is male and a heroine is female: Margaret is the novel’s heroine.
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Other Words From

  • he·ro·like adjective
  • sub·he·ro noun plural subheroes
  • un·he·ro noun plural unheroes
  • un·he·ro·like adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hero1

First recorded in 1605–15; back formation from Middle English heroes (plural), from Latin hērōs (singular), hērōes (plural), from Greek hḗrōs, hḗrōes
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hero1

C14: from Latin hērōs, from Greek
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Example Sentences

Moving into a new apartment is like playing hero to yourself.

From Ozy

The hoops intelligentsia has, for the most part, weighed the case for hero ball and ruled against it.

The three-part series is packed with horror and action and follows a demented Deadpool as he attempts to rid the Marvel universe of heroes.

From Ozy

In the newest phase of the crisis, it is less evident who the heroes are.

From Fortune

Our heroes are the ones who have walked intentionally toward social good, amplifying unheard voices and embracing inconvenience in exchange for more just outcomes for all.

From Fortune

His hero, Bruce Springsteen, is a gazillionaire, but he still manages to come across as a regular guy, so perception is reality.

My captain on the boat, Brazakka, he wanted me to do this Hemingway bit, with the white stubble, and he wanted the hero angle.

Selma becomes a biopic in which the hero shines while those who worked beside him are overlooked or relegated to the sidelines.

Sting took over the lead role to try to draw an audience, but his thumpingly inspirational score was already the hero of the show.

But you know, I had only one other hero in my life acting and that was River [Phoenix].

His hero, Gulliver, discovers race after race of beings who typify the genera in his classification of mankind.

General Lachambre, as the hero of Cavite, followed to receive the applause which was everywhere showered upon him in Spain.

El Imparcial maintained that he was worthy of being honoured as a 19th century conquering hero.

He stood, with the air of a hero, both arms extended towards the amazed pair of lovers.

Our hero smiled as he waved his hand to his companions, and, turning away, was soon lost to sight among the bushes.

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What Is The Plural Of Hero?

Plural word for hero

The plural form of the noun hero is heroes. The plurals of other singular words that end in -o are also formed in this way, including potato/potatoes, tomato/tomatoes, and echo/echoes

This can be confusing, because in some instances, words that end in -o are pluralized by simply adding an -s to the end, as in mango/mangos and flamingo/flamingos. However, the plural form heros is only valid when hero is used in the sense of a “hero sandwich.” This usage is very rare.

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