braver; bravest
1
: having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : having or showing courage
a brave soldier
a brave smile
2
: making a fine show : colorful
brave banners flying in the wind
bravely
adverb
braved; braving
1
: to face or endure with courage
braved the rush-hour traffic to get there
braving the elements
2
obsolete
: to make showy
archaic
: to show courage : to make a brave show
braver
noun
1
[in part borrowed from French, noun derivative of brave brave entry 1]
: one with mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : one who is brave (see brave entry 1)
… none but the brave deserves the fair.—
John Dryden
John Dryden
specifically
: an American Indian warrior
2
archaic
: bravado
Synonyms
Examples of brave in a Sentence
Adjective
She gave us a brave smile.
He lost his brave fight against the disease.
Verb
Thousands of fans braved rush-hour traffic to see the concert.
a soldier who braved enemy fire to rescue her wounded comrade
Recent Examples on the Web
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Once upon a time, a small but brave cub named Mufasa (Braelyn Rankins) was separated from his mother and father when a flash flood washed them away.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2024
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
The acute and physical effects plaintiffs braved as a result of defendants’ actions were endured here.
—Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024
Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 1 June 2024
Today, with inflation running near 100 percent and an economy that could grind to a halt given a structural lack of hard currency, optimism is reserved for the brave.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for brave 
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Adjective
Even Zelensky, who has put on a brave face for his people from the very moment the war began, is dropping some of his maximalist demands.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Once upon a time, a small but brave cub named Mufasa (Braelyn Rankins) was separated from his mother and father when a flash flood washed them away.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
The two braved the Topanga Mall, the San Fernando Valley’s crown jewel shopping center.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
The acute and physical effects plaintiffs braved as a result of defendants’ actions were endured here.
—Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
Still, Marler braves on; he’s got his team to watch.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 1 June 2024
Today, with inflation running near 100 percent and an economy that could grind to a halt given a structural lack of hard currency, optimism is reserved for the brave.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for brave
Dictionary Entries Near brave
Cite this Entry
“Brave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brave. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brave
1 of 3 adjective1
: feeling or displaying no fear : courageous
2
: making a fine show : splendid
brave banners flying in the wind
bravely
adverb
brave
2 of 3 verb
braved; braving
: to face or bear with courage
pioneers who braved the dangers of the frontier
brave
3 of 3 noun
: one who is brave
especially
: a warrior of an Indigenous people of North America
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