| English Dictionary |
BRAVE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does brave mean?
• BRAVE (noun)
The noun BRAVE has 2 senses:
1. a North American Indian warrior
2. people who are brave
Familiarity information: BRAVE used as a noun is rare.
• BRAVE (adjective)
The adjective BRAVE has 3 senses:
1. possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
2. invulnerable to fear or intimidation
3. brightly colored and showy
Familiarity information: BRAVE used as an adjective is uncommon.
• BRAVE (verb)
The verb BRAVE has 1 sense:
1. face and withstand with courage
Familiarity information: BRAVE used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A North American Indian warrior
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("brave" is a kind of...):
warrior (someone engaged in or experienced in warfare)
Sense 2
Meaning:
People who are brave
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Context example:
the home of the free and the brave
Hypernyms ("brave" is a kind of...):
people ((plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively)
Antonym:
timid (people who are fearful and cautious)
Derivation:
brave (face and withstand with courage)
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: bravest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
Synonyms:
brave; courageous
Context example:
set a courageous example by leading them safely into and out of enemy-held territory
Similar:
desperate; heroic (showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort)
valiant; valorous (having or showing valor)
undaunted (resolutely courageous)
stalwart; stouthearted (used especially of persons)
lionhearted (extraordinarily courageous)
game; gamey; gamy; gritty; mettlesome; spirited; spunky (willing to face danger)
gallant (unflinching in battle or action)
Also:
bold (fearless and daring)
fearless; unafraid (oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them)
adventuresome; adventurous (willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises)
resolute (firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination)
Attribute:
braveness; bravery; courage; courageousness (a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear)
Antonym:
cowardly (lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted)
Derivation:
braveness (a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Invulnerable to fear or intimidation
Synonyms:
audacious; brave; dauntless; fearless; hardy; intrepid; unfearing
Context example:
intrepid pioneers
Similar:
bold (fearless and daring)
Derivation:
braveness (a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Brightly colored and showy
Synonyms:
Context example:
birds with gay plumage
Similar:
colorful; colourful (striking in variety and interest)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it braves Past simple: braved
Past participle: braved
-ing form: braving
Sense 1
Meaning:
Face and withstand with courage
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
brave; brave out; endure; weather
Context example:
She braved the elements
Hypernyms (to "brave" is one way to...):
defy; hold; hold up; withstand (resist or confront with resistance)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
brave (people who are brave)
Context examples
Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers that threaten you.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"It was brave of you to help Arthur the way you did—and you a stranger," she said tactfully, aware of his discomfiture though not of the reason for it.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
The Winkies were not a brave people, but they had to do as they were told.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
If you have honed your skills, be brave, and show your ideas to influential people so you can have them funded and launched.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
"Thou art a brave man, Negore," he heard her say in his ear; "thou art my man, Negore."
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
“Humphrey Van Weyden,” she said, “you are a brave man.”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension; and Elinor's heart wrung for the feelings of Edward, while braving his mother's threats, for a woman who could not reward him.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
I little thought to find him among the bravest of my own chosen chieftains.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Even the honest and brave pugilist was found to draw villainy round him, just as the pure and noble racehorse does.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
And with that, this brave fellow turned his back directly on the cook and set off walking for the beach.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"All dreams spin out from the same web." (Native American proverb, Hopi)
"Think of the going out before you enter." (Arabic proverb)
"Not shooting means always missing" (Dutch proverb)