courage

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The ability to face fear, danger, pain, or difficulty and still do what is right or needed.

   Grammar: Usually no article or plural: She showed courage. Say an act of courage for one brave action.

   Patterns

   • have the courage to do something
   • take courage from something
   • pluck up the courage to do something
   • the courage of your convictions

   It took courage to admit the mistake in front of the whole team.

   She found the courage to ask for a fair hearing.

   His courage under pressure impressed the doctors.

2. 2nouncountableliterary

   A particular brave act, especially one done despite danger or opposition.

   Grammar: Used with a/an and can be plural: an act of courage, small courages. This is less common than the uncountable use.

   Patterns

   • an act of courage
   • show courage in the face of danger
   • moral courage
   • physical courage

   The rescue was a quiet courage rather than a dramatic gesture.

   Small daily courages can change a community.

Common combinations

have the courage to do something

Do you have the courage to disagree politely?

pluck up the courage

I finally plucked up the courage to call the landlord.

moral courage

Moral courage means doing right when popularity is at risk.

lose courage

Do not lose courage after one failed interview.

take courage from something

The team took courage from the early supportive reviews.

Synonyms and how they differ

bravery

More everyday and general; courage often suggests choosing right action despite fear, while bravery can sound more showy.

nerve

Informal, often for one risky act: it took nerve to speak. It can also mean cheek in other contexts.

valor

Formal or literary, usually great bravery in battle or heroic danger; stronger and narrower than everyday courage.

fortitude

Steady endurance of pain or hardship; less about facing fear and more about patiently bearing difficulty.

Opposites

Word family

courageous adjective

Showing courage; brave in a principled way.

courageously adverb

In a brave way despite fear.

encourage verb

To give confidence or support; literally give courage.

encouragement noun

Words or actions that give confidence.

discourage verb

To reduce confidence or try to stop an action.

Commonly confused: courage or discourage? courage or encourage?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “courage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words