valiantly
Americanadverb
-
in a bold and stouthearted way; bravely or courageously.
The Polish troops fought valiantly in World War II, and were crucial to the Allied victory.
-
in a heroic way that shows determination and tenacity.
Since the storm, utility crews have struggled valiantly to restore power, often working 16-hour shifts for days on end.
-
in a worthy or excellent way.
Medieval art valiantly, exhaustively, fleshes out one perceptual model after another for what triumphantly escapes human perception: God, death, power, love, and so on.
Other Word Forms
- overvaliantly adverb
- unvaliantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of valiantly
Explanation
To do something valiantly is to do it bravely and with valor. Heroes are known for doing things valiantly. Firefighters save lives by valiantly running into burning buildings. To be valiant is to have courage and to persevere, especially in difficult circumstances. Therefore, to act valiantly is to show courage and perseverance. A basketball player with a sore ankle who helps win the game has played valiantly. A war hero served his country valiantly. Martin Luther King Jr. worked for civil rights valiantly. This word has to do with strength of character and fortitude. Acting valiantly is difficult, which is why others admire it.
Vocabulary lists containing valiantly
Flying Lessons & Other Stories
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 2, Whole-Class & Small-Group Learning
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Mango-Shaped Space
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Denmark fought valiantly, though, opening the scoring through Nick Olesen before Matt Boldy brought the Americans level.
From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026
They include Syrian Ahmed al Ahmed, who was captured on camera valiantly disarming one of the attackers.
From BBC • Dec. 15, 2025
Patricia’s husband intervenes valiantly to help her, lending color and wit to her predicament, but we suspect he can’t save her.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2025
It seems clear that Robert Jackson, the justice who fought so valiantly for accountability for war crimes, would have been appalled by such an approach.
From Slate • Sep. 1, 2025
She is standing by her bed, trying valiantly to squeeze her schoolbooks into a purple minibackpack that I haven’t seen before.
From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass
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.
