adj
audacious
aw-DAY-shuhs
Audacious (adj) means Bold and daring, often to the point of taking real risks. Example: “It was an audacious plan to rob the bank in broad daylight.”
adj
1
Bold and daring, often to the point of taking real risks.
"It was an audacious plan to rob the bank in broad daylight."
"The startup made an audacious bid to take on the industry giant."
2
Rude or disrespectfully bold; showing a shocking lack of manners.
"It was audacious of him to demand a raise on his first day."
How to use audacious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFearlessly bold — can be admiring (a daring plan) or critical (shockingly rude), depending on context.
Common pairings
an audacious plan
audacious move
audacious enough to
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like audacious.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more audacious
- Superlative
- most audacious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was an _____ plan to rob the bank in broad daylight.
Etymology
From Latin audax, "bold," from audere, "to dare."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for audacious
See all rhymes for audacious →Frequently asked questions
What does “audacious” mean?
The word “audacious” means bold and daring, often to the point of taking real risks. In plain terms, fearlessly bold — can be admiring (a daring plan) or critical (shockingly rude), depending on context.
How do you pronounce “audacious”?
“Audacious” is pronounced aw-DAY-shuhs (/ɔˈdeɪ.ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “audacious” in a sentence?
Here is “audacious” used in a sentence: “It was an audacious plan to rob the bank in broad daylight.”
What part of speech is “audacious”?
“Audacious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “audacious” come from?
The word “audacious” comes from Latin. From Latin audax, "bold," from audere, "to dare.".
How many meanings does “audacious” have?
“Audacious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: bold and daring, often to the point of taking real risks.
