brave

¹brave

adjective \ˈbrāv\

brav·er brav·est

Definition of BRAVE

1

: having or showing courage <a brave soldier> <a brave smile>

2

: making a fine show : colorful <brave banners flying in the wind>

3

: excellent, splendid <the brave fire I soon had going — J. F. Dobie>

— brave·ly adverb

Examples of BRAVE

1. She gave us a brave smile.
2. He lost his brave fight against the disease.

Origin of BRAVE

Middle French, from Old Italian & Old Spanish bravo courageous, wild, probably from Latin barbarus barbarous

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BRAVE

Synonyms

bold, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, gutty, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undauntable, undaunted, valiant, valorous

Antonyms

chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, coward, cowardly, craven, dastardly, fainthearted, fearful, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], nerveless, poltroon, poor-spirited, pusillanimous, spineless, spiritless, timorous, uncourageous, ungallant, unheroic, weakhearted, yellow

Related Words

determined, firm, game, gamy (or gamey), gritty, plucky, resolute, Spartan, undeterred, undismayed, unflinching, unswerving; mettlesome, spirited, spunky; adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, daring, dashing, hardy, venturesome, venturous; crazy, foolish, half-witted, insane, lunatic, mad, nutty; brash, brazen, daredevil, foolhardy, heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, imprudent, impulsive, incautious, madcap, overbold, overconfident, rash, reckless, thoughtless, wild; hasty, headlong, precipitate; comforted, emboldened, encouraged, heartened, reassured, unafraid

Near Antonyms

diffident, mousy (or mousey), scary, shy, skittish, timid; anxious, apprehensive, nervous; careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, unadventurous; afraid, agitated, disconcerted, disquieted, disturbed, frightened, horrified, panicked, panic-stricken, perturbed, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved, upset; appalled, concerned, dismayed, worried; unmanly, weak, wimpy

Rhymes with BRAVE

cave, clave, crave, fave, glaive, grave, knave, lave, nave, pave, rave, save, shave, slave, stave, waive, wave, Wave

²brave

verb

braved brav·ing

Definition of BRAVE

transitive verb

1

: to face or endure with courage

2

obsolete : to make showy

intransitive verb

archaic : to make a brave show

— brav·er noun

Examples of BRAVE

1. Thousands of fans braved rush-hour traffic to see the concert.
2. <a soldier who braved enemy fire to rescue her wounded comrade>

First Known Use of BRAVE

1546

Related to BRAVE

Synonyms

beard, face, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, outbrave, outface

Antonyms

dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep

Related Words

face up (to), front; affront; challenge; encounter, meet; accost, approach, corner; repel, resist, stand, withstand; battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)

Near Antonyms

avoid, eschew, shun; elude, escape, evade, shake

³brave

noun

Definition of BRAVE

1

archaic : bravado

2

: one who is brave; specifically : an American Indian warrior

3

archaic : bully, assassin

First Known Use of BRAVE

1590