brave

Everyday

1. Brave means ready to do something difficult or frightening, even though you feel afraid. tree →
2. To brave something, like bad weather, is to face it and go through it. tree →
3. In old stories, «the brave» means brave people. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, calling a character brave tells the reader they face danger or fear for a good reason; bravery is a key quality of heroes. In feelings lessons, being brave does not mean having no fear — it means doing the right thing although you are scared, like telling the truth, saying sorry, standing up for someone, or going to the dentist. Brave is not the same as reckless: taking silly risks is not brave. Phrases: «be brave», «brave enough to», «put on a brave face», «brave the weather».

Examples

• It was brave of you to tell the teacher the truth. tree →
• The firefighter was very brave. tree →
• I was brave at the dentist. tree →
• She was brave enough to stand up to the bully. tree →
• We braved the rain to watch the parade. tree →
• Even brave people feel scared sometimes. tree →
• He put on a brave face, but he was sad. tree →
• Jumping off a roof is not brave; it is dangerous. tree →
• He was so brave and cheerful. tree →

Note

Comparative braver, superlative bravest. Noun: bravery. Adverb: bravely. Brave ≠ fearless: you can be brave and scared at once. «Brave» is not the same as «showing off» or «taking dangerous dares».