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courage

noun
cour·​age | \ ˈkər-ij How to pronounce courage (audio) , ˈkə-rij\

Definition of courage

: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about courage

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Choose the Right Synonym for courage

courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship. courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty. the courage to support unpopular causes mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience. a challenge that will test your mettle spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened. her spirit was unbroken by failure resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends. the resolution of pioneer women tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat. held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Examples of courage in a Sentence

Eunice Kennedy Shriver … didn't buy into the propaganda of her day that women had to be soft and submissive. That took courage back then, because she grew up in a family that expected a lot from the boys and very little from the girls. — Maria Shriver, Time, 26 Oct. 2009 Sometimes when I debate whether to risk my individuality or conform, the memory of my son's picture brings me courage. — Sue Monk Kidd, Reader's Digest, August 1990 But as long as your courage holds out you may as well go right ahead making a fool of yourself. All brave men are fools. — Robert Frost 17 Apr. 1915, in Selected Letters of Robert Frost,  1964 She has the courage to support unpopular causes. It takes courage to stand up for your rights.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The courage and cleverness in staying in power for so long cannot be gainsaid. — The Economist, "Robert Mugabe leaves a bitter legacy," 7 Sep. 2019 Lesson in inclusion Confronting movie stars is not the only example of Gottsagen’s courage. — Ben Crandell, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Can Zack Gottsagen, a Boynton Beach actor with Down syndrome, change Hollywood?," 7 Aug. 2019 Those who find the courage to speak out are often met with stigmatisation and scorn. — Fakhrriyyah Hashim, Quartz Africa, "How Nigeria’s conservative northern region came to terms with its MeToo movement," 22 July 2019 Despite its contrived beginnings, Bowie designed a cultural touchstone for a historic moment of human engineering and blind courage. — Mitch Goodwin, Quartzy, "How David Bowie created “Space Oddity,” the ultimate space anthem," 12 July 2019 After reading the initial Journal Sentinel column on the locals' involvement in the trip, Rush Creek Distilling Co. volunteered to provide liquid courage and financial support to the Shorewood men on their journey. — Jeff Rumage, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Shorewood friends going on a 10,000-mile, two-month Eurasian road trip have found a sponsor," 10 July 2019 Or, in a very different sense, even a tightrope walker requires some type of courage. — Rob Csernyik, Quartz at Work, "Why is “courage” suddenly such a popular job requirement?," 20 Aug. 2019 The video is presented by CNN political commentator Steve Cortes, a voice of courage in the herd known as the mainstream American media. — Dennis Prager, National Review, "Chronicling the Left’s Lies," 6 Aug. 2019 But the bottom line is, Lulu gave me a lot of courage. — Jen Yamato, latimes.com, "‘The Farewell’s’ Lulu Wang and Awkwafina want you to cry, then call your grandma," 11 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'courage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of courage

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for courage

Middle English corage, from Anglo-French curage, from quer, coer heart, from Latin cor — more at heart

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More Definitions for courage

courage

noun
How to pronounce courage (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of courage

: the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

See the full definition for courage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

courage

noun
cour·​age | \ ˈkər-ij How to pronounce courage (audio) \

Kids Definition of courage

: the ability to meet danger and difficulties with firmness

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More from Merriam-Webster on courage

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for courage

Spanish Central: Translation of courage

Nglish: Translation of courage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of courage for Arabic Speakers

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