brave

[ breyv ]

adjective

, brav·er, brav·est.

1. possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance.

   Synonyms: heroic, dauntless, daring, intrepid, bold

   Antonyms: cowardly

2. making a fine appearance.
3. Archaic. excellent; fine; admirable.

noun

1. the brave. (used with a plural verb) courageous people, collectively:

   the land of the free and the home of the brave.

2. Sometimes Offensive. a warrior, especially among North American Indian tribes.
3. Obsolete.
   1. a bully.
   2. a boast or challenge.

verb (used with object)

, braved, brav·ing.

1. to meet or face courageously:

   to brave misfortunes.

2. to defy; challenge; dare.
3. Obsolete. to make splendid.

verb (used without object)

, braved, brav·ing.

1. Obsolete. to boast; brag.

brave

/ breɪv /

adjective

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

      the brave

2. fine; splendid

   a brave attempt

   a brave sight

3. archaic.
   excellent or admirable

noun

1. a warrior of a Native American tribe
2. an obsolete word for bully 1

verb

1. to dare or defy

   to brave the odds

2. to confront with resolution or courage

   to brave the storm

3. obsolete.
   to make splendid, esp in dress

Sensitive Note

See powwow.

Derived Forms

• ˈbraveness, noun
• ˈbravery, noun
• ˈbravely, adverb

Other Words From

• brave·ly adverb
• brave·ness noun
• o·ver·brave adjective
• o·ver·brave·ly adverb
• o·ver·brave·ness noun
• qua·si-brave adjective
• qua·si-brave·ly adverb
• su·per·brave adjective
• su·per·brave·ly adverb
• su·per·brave·ness noun
• un·brave adjective
• un·brave·ly adverb
• un·brave·ness noun
• un·braved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of brave¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of brave¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

We have seen enough of this brave new approach among pharma companies, however, to think their collective action over the past three-quarters of a year might actually change the world, or save part of it.

From Fortune

Finally, some brave producers have started to schedule holiday releases.

From Washington Blade

If you’re brave enough, put yourself in Terence Davis’s shoes.

From FiveThirtyEight

“You can make sure that when you are talking about de-escalation, you are brave enough to discuss the circumstances where it doesn’t go in a way that feels incredibly neat, where it feels incredibly easy to deal with,” said Cabral.

From Digiday

Many of the brave and caring staff in these nursing homes become infected, likely because of the intensity of this higher R0 and their exposure time with residents.

From No Straight News

What I had “on the girls” were some remarkably brave first-person accounts.

From The Daily Beast

“He was a brave field commander and an expert in intelligence, and in organizing popular and tribal forces,” said the eulogist.

From The Daily Beast

But what he did was reasonably brave and freighted with all the symbolism of which he was well aware.

From The Daily Beast

These brave souls took an icy dip in the ocean to ring in 2015 and raise money for charity.

From The Daily Beast

Or you may not have many—or any—friends, recasting your social exclusion as brave defiance of social norms.

From The Daily Beast

Nogués and his brave lads have done their bit indeed for the glory of the Army of France.

From Project Gutenberg

Its record is largely that of battles and sieges, of the brave adventure of discovery and the vexed slaughter of the nations.

From Project Gutenberg

I feel proud and happy to shelter beneath my roof any of our valued and brave allies.

From Project Gutenberg

A few words explained his errand; but the brave Englishman would hardly hear it to the end.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the friars call the natives Spaniards and the military officers own us as their sons and they dub us brave soldiers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adventurous
• audacious
• confident
• courageous
• daring
• dashing
• fearless
• foolhardy
• gallant
• gutsy
• heroic
• reckless
• resolute
• spirited
• spunky
• stout
• strong
• valiant