brave

/breɪv/
adjectiveIntermediate
formalinformal

Having or showing courage or boldness in the face of danger, difficulty, or adversity

The firefighters were brave as they entered the burning building.

The firefighters showed great courage by entering the dangerous situation.

It takes a brave person to admit their mistakes.

Admitting mistakes requires courage and honesty.

💡

Often used to describe actions or people who face challenges with determination and fearlessness.

informal

Showing a willingness to take risks or face challenges despite potential failure or criticism

He made a brave attempt to start his own business.

He took a significant risk by starting a business, showing determination.

💡

Can also imply a sense of boldness or daring.

Collocations

brave the stormto face a difficult situation with couragebrave hearta person who is courageous and determinedbrave new worlda bold or challenging new situation or era

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

take the brave pathphrase
to choose a difficult but morally right course of action
brave the elementsphrase
to endure harsh weather conditions

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

The word 'brave' can describe both physical courage (e.g., in battle) and moral courage (e.g., standing up for beliefs).

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While 'brave' is a positive word, overusing it can dilute its impact. Use it for truly courageous actions or people.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'brave' (bold, valiant), from Italian 'bravo' (brave, bold), possibly from Latin 'barbarus' (foreign, barbarous). First recorded in English in the mid-16th century.

📝Usage Notes

Can be used both as an adjective to describe people or actions, and as a noun (e.g., 'the brave') to refer to courageous individuals.

Word Breakdown

brave
courageous, bold
root
English Dictionary