HEROIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does heroic mean? 

• HEROIC (noun)
  The noun HEROIC has 1 sense:

1. a verse form suited to the treatment of heroic or elevated themes; dactylic hexameter or iambic pentameter

  Familiarity information: HEROIC used as a noun is very rare.

• HEROIC (adjective)
  The adjective HEROIC has 5 senses:

1. very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)

2. relating to or characteristic of heroes of antiquity

3. having or displaying qualities appropriate for heroes

4. of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

5. showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort

  Familiarity information: HEROIC used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEROIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A verse form suited to the treatment of heroic or elevated themes; dactylic hexameter or iambic pentameter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

heroic; heroic meter; heroic verse

Hypernyms ("heroic" is a kind of...):

epic; epic poem; epos; heroic poem (a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds)

• HEROIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)

Synonyms:

epic; heroic; larger-than-life

Context example:

heroic sculpture

Similar:

big; large (above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Relating to or characteristic of heroes of antiquity

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

the heroic age

Pertainym:

hero ((classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having or displaying qualities appropriate for heroes

Synonyms:

heroic; heroical

Context example:

heroic explorers

Similar:

bold (fearless and daring)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

Synonyms:

expansive; grand; heroic

Context example:

heroic undertakings

Similar:

impressive (making a strong or vivid impression)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort

Synonyms:

desperate; heroic

Context example:

they took heroic measures to save his life

Similar:

brave; courageous (possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching)

 Context examples 

His attempt to maintain his dignity was heroic.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Life was so strange and wonderful, filled with an immensity of problems, of dreams, and of heroic toils, and yet these stories dealt only with the commonplaces of life.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

And really I felt that she was a noble woman—the sort of woman who might have been a Roman matron, and done all manner of heroic things, in times of public trouble.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Thank you, Mr. Yonson,” I said; “but don’t you think your measures were rather heroic?”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

You should do it because you can't help yourself, because it's natural to you, because the man in you is crying out for heroic expression.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She turned scarlet and was on the verge of crying, when she met Laurie's eyes, which would look merry in spite of his heroic efforts.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

There she fell miserably short of the true heroic height.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Had he been a handsome, heroic- looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will, and offering my services unasked.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Before you receive my daughter, and the half of my kingdom, said he to him, you must perform one more heroic deed.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

That winter, at Dawson, Buck performed another exploit, not so heroic, perhaps, but one that put his name many notches higher on the totem-pole of Alaskan fame.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)