Meaning & use
bravely
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Meanings
adverb
In a way that shows courage when facing danger, difficulty, or fear.
Grammar: Modifies a verb: she acted bravely. Often comes after the verb or at the end of a clause.
Patterns
- act bravely
- fight bravely
- face something bravely
She bravely went back into the burning house to save her dog.
The soldiers fought bravely despite being outnumbered.
He bravely admitted his mistake in front of the whole team.
adverb
In a way that is bold and confident, especially in appearance.
Grammar: Used for style or appearance; often means 'boldly' or 'strikingly'.
Patterns
- dressed bravely
- bravely colored
The room was bravely painted in bright orange and purple.
She wore a bravely patterned dress to the party.
Common combinations
- act bravely
- He acted bravely when he confronted the bully.
- fight bravely
- They fought bravely for their freedom.
- face something bravely
- She faced her illness bravely.
- bravely admit
- He bravely admitted that he was wrong.
Synonyms and how they differ
- courageously
- Very close in meaning, but more formal and often used in writing about heroic acts.
- boldly
- Suggests confidence and a willingness to take risks, not necessarily fear.
- fearlessly
- Emphasizes a total lack of fear, whereas 'bravely' often implies acting despite fear.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: bravely or bravado?
bravely vs bravado
A noun meaning a show of boldness intended to impress others; not the same as 'bravely', which describes real courage.
Practice
She ___ rescued the child from the river.
Choose one answer.
The adverb 'bravely' modifies the verb 'rescued'. 'Brave' is an adjective, 'bravery' and 'braveness' are nouns, so they cannot describe how she rescued the child.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bravely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.