brave

The word “brave” means willing to face danger, pain, or difficulty without giving in to fear. In plain terms, showing courage in the face of fear, danger, or difficulty.

“Brave” is pronounced brayv (/bɹeɪv/ in IPA).

Here is “brave” used in a sentence: “It was brave of her to speak up in front of the whole board.”

Words with a similar meaning to “brave” include adventurous, mettlesome, aweless, bad, bold and brass-balled.

The opposite of “brave” — its antonyms — are afraid, cowardly, cautious, fearful and frightened.

Depending on how it is used, “brave” can be an adjective and a verb.

The word “brave” comes from Italian. From Italian bravo, of uncertain deeper origin — a doublet of the English word "bravo.".

“Brave” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

Both describe facing danger or difficulty, but "brave" is the broader, more everyday word and often suggests facing immediate physical danger. "Courageous" tends to emphasise deliberate moral strength, such as standing up for a principle despite the cost.

"Brave" means willing to face fear, danger, or pain, while "bold" emphasises confidence and a readiness to take risks. A bold person may not feel fear at all, whereas a brave person overcomes it.

As a verb, "brave" means to face or endure something difficult or dangerous with courage, as in "they braved the storm" or "she braved the crowds." It is usually followed directly by the challenge being faced.

A brave person feels fear but acts in spite of it, while a fearless person feels little or no fear in the first place. "Brave" emphasises courage under pressure, whereas "fearless" emphasises the absence of fear.