Bravery: Acting Well While Afraid
Bravery is the quality of facing danger or pain without giving in to fear. Most definitions stress that the fear is still there — courage without fear would need no name.
Bravery is the willingness to face danger, pain or difficulty. The important part is what it does not mean: bravery is not the absence of fear but action taken in spite of it.
- Courage in danger. *He was decorated for bravery.*
- Willingness to face hardship. *Her bravery through the illness.*
- Boldness in speech or choice. *It took bravery to say that in public.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | bravery | An award for bravery. |
| Adjective | brave | A brave decision. |
| Adverb | bravely | She fought bravely. |
| Verb | brave | They braved the storm. |
| Near synonym | courage | Moral courage. |
How it is used in a sentence
- He received a medal for bravery.For bravery is the standard phrase in citations.
- They braved the cold to watch the match.Brave as a verb means endure something unpleasant.
- That was a brave choice of colour.Said with a pause, brave can mean unwise — a very British use.
Bravery, courage, valour and nerve
- Bravery — facing danger, usually a visible act
- Courage — broader, including moral courage with no physical risk
- Valour — bravery in battle, formal and old-fashioned
- Nerve — calm daring, and sometimes cheek
From Italian *bravo*, bold or wild, through French *braverie*. The Italian original could mean fierce or even ruffianly, so the word has softened considerably on its way into English.
Bravery or courage?
They overlap. Bravery leans towards physical danger; courage covers speaking up, admitting fault and enduring hardship as well.
Can brave be a verb?
Yes. *Brave the weather* and *brave the crowds* both mean face something unpleasant deliberately.