braver; bravest
1
: having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : having or showing courage
a brave soldier
a brave smile
2
: making a fine show : colorful
brave banners flying in the wind
bravely
adverb
braved; braving
1
: to face or endure with courage
braved the rush-hour traffic to get there
braving the elements
2
obsolete
: to make showy
archaic
: to show courage : to make a brave show
braver
noun
1
[in part borrowed from French, noun derivative of brave brave entry 1]
: one with mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : one who is brave (see brave entry 1)
… none but the brave deserves the fair.—
John Dryden
John Dryden
specifically
: an American Indian warrior
2
archaic
: bravado
Examples of brave in a Sentence
Adjective
She gave us a brave smile.
He lost his brave fight against the disease.
Verb
Thousands of fans braved rush-hour traffic to see the concert.
a soldier who braved enemy fire to rescue her wounded comrade
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
The future of this country belongs to those brave enough to remember—and bold enough to keep building toward a more perfect union.
—Stacey Abrams, Essence, 4 July 2025
Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 7 July 2025
As Moroney finished her set, those fans already seated on blankets or arcing their necks to see the stage were also those braving the humidity as the moment marked finishing their first tall boy beer, accompanied by their first drips of sweat broken during the day.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Still, Marler braves on; he’s got his team to watch.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 1 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for brave
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
These brave men and women conducting rescue operations have saved many people but sadly, there have also been at least 50 fatalities reported, including 15 children as of Saturday night.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
The future of this country belongs to those brave enough to remember—and bold enough to keep building toward a more perfect union.
—Stacey Abrams, Essence, 4 July 2025
Verb
Known for his fierce work ethic, Siegel took on cases that promised long hours and lengthy paperwork, earning a reputation for being feared, respected and willing to brave a trial in the East Bay’s various courthouses.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 7 July 2025
As Moroney finished her set, those fans already seated on blankets or arcing their necks to see the stage were also those braving the humidity as the moment marked finishing their first tall boy beer, accompanied by their first drips of sweat broken during the day.
—Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Noun
Shoshone chief Winter Bird (Irene Bedard) is a pacifist dealing with young braves too eager to fight.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Still, Marler braves on; he’s got his team to watch.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 1 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for brave
Cite this Entry
“Brave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brave. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brave
1 of 3 adjective1
: feeling or displaying no fear : courageous
2
: making a fine show : splendid
brave banners flying in the wind
bravely
adverb
brave
2 of 3 verb
braved; braving
: to face or bear with courage
pioneers who braved the dangers of the frontier
brave
3 of 3 noun
: one who is brave
especially
: a warrior of an Indigenous people of North America
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