brave en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /bɹæɪv/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /bɹeɪv/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /bɾeːv/ (Wales) without the pane–pain merger
- (US) audio
- [bɾeːv] (Scotland)
- brāv (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /bɾev/ (Scotland)
Etymology
From Middle French brave, borrowed from Italian bravo, itself of uncertain origin (see there). Doublet of bravo.
Meanings
-
Strong in the face of fear; courageous.
Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and help me through the horrible task. If you only knew what an effort it is to me to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand how much I need your help.
1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Westminster [London]: Archibald Constable and Company, […], →OCLC:For miſerie doth braueſt mindes abate, / And make them ſeeke for that they wont to ſcorne, / Of fortune and of hope at once forlorne.
1578–1579, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale. [...] Dedicated to the Right Honorable the Ladie Compton and Mountegle”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. Whereof the Next Page Maketh Mention, London: Imprinted for VVilliam Ponsonbie, dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Bishops head, published 1591, →OCLC:[…]he has been so brave, giving it all a dignity.
1987, Michael Grumley, The Last Diary:Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others.
2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, “High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 50:
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(obsolete) Having any sort of superiority or excellence.
Is it not paſſing braue to be a King, And ride in triumph through Perſepolis?
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene v:Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth.
1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Plantations”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall.
18 February 1666, Samuel Pepys, diary entry
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Making a fine show or display.
Frog and lizard in holiday coats / And turtle brave in his golden spots.
1867, Ralph Waldo Emerson, May-Day:So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,[…]a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:Their plumed helmes are wrought with beaten golde, Their ſwords enameld, and about their neckes Hangs maſſie chaines of golde downe to the waſte, In euery part exceding braue and rich.
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:Wear my dagger with the braver grace.
c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:For I have gold, and therefore will be brave. / In silks I'll rattle it of every color.
1611, John Cooke, Greene's Tu Quoque:
- (UK, euphemistic) Foolish or unwise.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most brave | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| bravest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| braver | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| more brave | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
shy · meek · frightened · afraid · mean · fearful · cowardly · uncourageous · weak · cautious · unhearty · timid · fearful · cowardly
Deriveds
put a brave face on · brave new world · fortune favours the brave · put on a brave face · braveheart · overbrave · bravity · brave as a lion · bravesome · fortune favors the brave · unbrave · superbrave · bravely · braveness · bravehood · braven · stunning and brave · embrave
Relateds
courage · bravo · hero · badass · coward · bravura
Synonyms
gallant · daredevil · bold · venturesome · gutsy · doughty · adventurous · fortitudinous · daring · stalwart · fearless · valorous · bad · dauntless · resilient · valiant · lionhearted · bold · unafraid · brass-balled · aweless · orped · stalworth · doughty · courageous · undaunted · orped · intrepid · stouthearted · plucky · daring · plucky · courageous · heroic · stalwart · chivalrous · mettlesome
Translations (231)
sv tapper (strong in the face of fear) · it ardito (strong in the face of fear) · wa franc (strong in the face of fear) · haw koa (strong in the face of fear) · lo ກຳແຫງ (strong in the face of fear) · tr mert (strong in the face of fear) · af braaf (strong in the face of fear) · alt јӱректӱ (strong in the face of fear) · no modig (strong in the face of fear) · io brava (strong in the face of fear) · gl valente (strong in the face of fear) · ml ധീര (strong in the face of fear) · he אַמִּיץ (strong in the face of fear) · lo ກ້າ (strong in the face of fear) · jv wani (strong in the face of fear) · fur di fiât (strong in the face of fear) · la magnanimus (strong in the face of fear) · acw شجاع (strong in the face of fear) · tr korkusuz (strong in the face of fear) · mr चातुर्य (strong in the face of fear) · oc valent (strong in the face of fear) · fa نیو (strong in the face of fear) · sq i guximshëm (strong in the face of fear) · yi העלדיש (strong in the face of fear) · wa bråve (strong in the face of fear) · pdt brow (strong in the face of fear) · mn зоригтой (strong in the face of fear) · nrf brave (strong in the face of fear) · kaw wani (strong in the face of fear) · cy dewr (strong in the face of fear) · et vahva (strong in the face of fear) · km ក្លាហាន (strong in the face of fear) · mk смел (strong in the face of fear) · th กล้า (strong in the face of fear) · bg хра́бър (strong in the face of fear) · lb couragéiert (strong in the face of fear) · ml ധൈര്യമുള്ള (strong in the face of fear) · tg шуҷоъ (strong in the face of fear) · eu ausart (strong in the face of fear) · sh храбар (strong in the face of fear) · el γενναίος (strong in the face of fear) · az mərd (strong in the face of fear) · cs statečný (strong in the face of fear) · enm doughty (strong in the face of fear) · kk батыл (strong in the face of fear) · ig ebube (strong in the face of fear) · sa वीर (strong in the face of fear) · ja 雄々しい (strong in the face of fear) · ro brav (strong in the face of fear) · yi מוטיק (strong in the face of fear) · ast coraxosu (strong in the face of fear) · acw جريء (strong in the face of fear) · ba батыр (strong in the face of fear) · lb daper (strong in the face of fear) · ru отва́жный (strong in the face of fear) · vi gan góc (strong in the face of fear) · is hugrakkur (strong in the face of fear) · kk батыр (strong in the face of fear) · vi mạnh bạo (strong in the face of fear) · lo ກ້າຫານ (strong in the face of fear) · es bravo (strong in the face of fear) · uk сміли́вий (strong in the face of fear) · pt bravio (strong in the face of fear) · tk batyr (strong in the face of fear) · bo དཔའ་བོ (strong in the face of fear) · uk відва́жний (strong in the face of fear) · fi rohkea (strong in the face of fear) · cy eofn (strong in the face of fear) · fa شجاع (strong in the face of fear) · ba ҡыйыу (strong in the face of fear) · kk ержүрек (strong in the face of fear) · eo brava (strong in the face of fear) · cmn 勇敢 (strong in the face of fear) · mi hautoa (strong in the face of fear) · ang beald (strong in the face of fear) · et vapper (strong in the face of fear) · az cəsur (strong in the face of fear) · grc ἀνδρεῖος (strong in the face of fear) · el θαρραλέος (strong in the face of fear) · pt bravo (strong in the face of fear) · lad korajozo (strong in the face of fear) · tg шуҷоатманд (strong in the face of fear) · fi urhoollinen (strong in the face of fear) · vi gan dạ (strong in the face of fear) · ast valiente (strong in the face of fear) · ug قورقماس (strong in the face of fear) · my သတ္တိကောင်း (strong in the face of fear) · it coraggioso (strong in the face of fear) · sq trim (strong in the face of fear) · nl moedig (strong in the face of fear) · cy glew (strong in the face of fear) · ja 勇猛な (strong in the face of fear) · ru дивный ((obsolete) having any sort of superiority or excellence) · ru сме́лый (strong in the face of fear) · my ရဲရင့် (strong in the face of fear) · mnc ᠪᠠᡨᡠ᠋ᡵᡠ (strong in the face of fear) · vi mạnh dạn (strong in the face of fear) · tyv эккер-эрес (strong in the face of fear) · ckb ئازا (strong in the face of fear) · be хра́бры (strong in the face of fear) · ro curajos (strong in the face of fear) · kk дәділ (strong in the face of fear) · uz jasur (strong in the face of fear) · vi dũng cảm (strong in the face of fear) · tr yürekli (strong in the face of fear) · ru бра́вый (strong in the face of fear) · ru хра́брый (strong in the face of fear) · ug باتۇر (strong in the face of fear) · ms berani (strong in the face of fear) · fi urhea (strong in the face of fear) · bg смел (strong in the face of fear) · grc θρασύς (strong in the face of fear) · de tapfer (strong in the face of fear) · lv drosmīgs (strong in the face of fear) · pt valente (strong in the face of fear) · fa دلیر (strong in the face of fear) · sk statočný (strong in the face of fear) · az comərd (strong in the face of fear) · hi बहादुर (strong in the face of fear) · tl matapang (strong in the face of fear) · ur بهادر (strong in the face of fear) · uz mard (strong in the face of fear) · uz botir (strong in the face of fear) · uk хоро́брий (strong in the face of fear) · pl dzielny (strong in the face of fear) · it impavido (strong in the face of fear) · tr cesur (strong in the face of fear) · wa coraedjeus (strong in the face of fear) · ky жүрөктүү (strong in the face of fear) · gl bravo (strong in the face of fear) · it baldo (strong in the face of fear) · mn эрэлхэг (strong in the face of fear) · lv drošs (strong in the face of fear) · mi māia (strong in the face of fear) · ka გულოვანი (strong in the face of fear) · br kaloneg (strong in the face of fear) · vi quả cảm (strong in the face of fear) · tk mert (strong in the face of fear) · ka მამაცი (strong in the face of fear) · ast bravu (strong in the face of fear) · ar جَرِيء (strong in the face of fear) · zu -nesibindi (strong in the face of fear) · tyv кайгал (strong in the face of fear) · th กล้าหาญ (strong in the face of fear) · ga calma (strong in the face of fear) · tr cesaretli (strong in the face of fear) · ckb قارەمان (strong in the face of fear) · sl pogumen (strong in the face of fear) · gd tapaidh (strong in the face of fear) · et julge (strong in the face of fear) · ja 勇敢な (strong in the face of fear) · tyv дидим (strong in the face of fear) · be сме́лы (strong in the face of fear) · sl hraber (strong in the face of fear) · ka ვაჟკაცი (strong in the face of fear) · ru бесстра́шный (strong in the face of fear) · hy քաջ (strong in the face of fear) · az ürəkli (strong in the face of fear) · pl odważny (strong in the face of fear) · mk хра́бар (strong in the face of fear) · so geesi (strong in the face of fear) · inh майра (strong in the face of fear) · ga misniúil (strong in the face of fear) · ka გამბედავი (strong in the face of fear) · sk odvážny (strong in the face of fear) · hi व्यकित (strong in the face of fear) · ga fearúil (strong in the face of fear) · cs odvážný (strong in the face of fear) · vo kuradik (strong in the face of fear) · oj zoongide'e (strong in the face of fear) · id berani (strong in the face of fear) · sh hrabar (strong in the face of fear) · ky кайраттуу (strong in the face of fear) · oc coratjós (strong in the face of fear) · ka გულადი (strong in the face of fear) · ja 勇気ある (strong in the face of fear) · mi toa (strong in the face of fear) · bn সাহসী (strong in the face of fear) · pl chrobry (strong in the face of fear) · it valoroso (strong in the face of fear) · lt drąsus (strong in the face of fear) · eo kuraĝa (strong in the face of fear) · ce майра (strong in the face of fear) · tg далер (strong in the face of fear) · te ధైర్యమైన (strong in the face of fear) · ca coratjós (strong in the face of fear) · pac préinh (strong in the face of fear) · ga cróga (strong in the face of fear) · ca audaç (strong in the face of fear) · rup gioni (strong in the face of fear) · unm ilamàlsi (strong in the face of fear) · bo བློ་ཁོག་ཆེན་པོ (strong in the face of fear) · scn curaggiusu (strong in the face of fear) · hu bátor (strong in the face of fear) · ky батымдуу (strong in the face of fear) · io kurajoza (strong in the face of fear) · ug جەسۇر (strong in the face of fear) · be адва́жны (strong in the face of fear) · he אמיצה (strong in the face of fear) · pt corajoso (strong in the face of fear) · ga móruchtúil (strong in the face of fear) · chr ᏧᎵᏨᏯᏍᏗ (strong in the face of fear) · sco wicht (strong in the face of fear) · ug مەرد (strong in the face of fear) · la animosus (strong in the face of fear) · fr courageux (strong in the face of fear) · arz شجيع (strong in the face of fear) · ar شُجَاع (strong in the face of fear) · cy gwrdd (strong in the face of fear) · cy gwrol (strong in the face of fear) · ht brav (strong in the face of fear) · ar جَسُور (strong in the face of fear) · la fortis (strong in the face of fear) · ko 용감하다 (strong in the face of fear) · de mutig (strong in the face of fear) · mt kuraġġuż (strong in the face of fear) · sv modig (strong in the face of fear) · it audace (strong in the face of fear) · otw zoongde'e (strong in the face of fear) · tg диловар (strong in the face of fear) · uz dovyurak (strong in the face of fear) · gd misneachail (strong in the face of fear) · af dapper (strong in the face of fear) · sw jasiri (strong in the face of fear) · ota قوچاق (strong in the face of fear) · fo djarvur (strong in the face of fear) · ka გაბედული (strong in the face of fear) · da modig (strong in the face of fear) · ca valent (strong in the face of fear) · ta தைரியசாலி (strong in the face of fear) · otw aakde'e (strong in the face of fear)