Meaning & use
physical courage
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Meanings
noununcountable
the bravery to face danger, pain, or bodily harm without letting fear stop you.
Grammar: Uncountable: it has no plural and takes a singular verb — 'Physical courage takes many forms.'
Patterns
- show physical courage
- have the physical courage to do something
- a display of physical courage
Firefighters show physical courage every time they enter a burning building.
It took physical courage to jump from the plane, but she did it.
He was praised for his physical courage during the rescue.
noununcountable
the quality of acting bravely when your body is in danger or under stress.
Grammar: Also uncountable; often used after verbs like 'require' or 'demand' — 'The job requires physical courage.'
Patterns
- require physical courage
- demand physical courage
- a test of physical courage
Climbing that cliff demands both skill and physical courage.
The soldiers' physical courage under fire impressed everyone.
For many people, public speaking is a test of physical courage as much as nerve.
Common combinations
- show physical courage
- She showed physical courage by going back into the smoke.
- require physical courage
- Rescuing swimmers requires physical courage and strong swimming.
- a display of physical courage
- His dash across the road was a display of physical courage.
- physical courage under fire
- The report praised their physical courage under fire.
- lack physical courage
- He did not lack physical courage, only patience.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bravery
- A more general word for facing any kind of danger or fear, not just bodily risk.
- nerve
- More informal and often about steady confidence in a tense moment rather than danger to the body.
- grit
- Emphasizes stubborn endurance over a long time, while physical courage is about facing a specific danger.
- valor
- A literary or formal word, usually used about soldiers in battle.
Opposites
Word family
- physically adverb
- in a way that relates to the body
- physical adjective
- relating to the body rather than the mind
- courageous adjective
- brave; willing to face danger
- courageously adverb
- in a brave way
- moral courage noun
- bravery in standing up for what is right
Commonly confused: physical courage or moral courage?
physical courage vs moral courage
Moral courage is the strength to do the right thing even when others disapprove; physical courage is about facing bodily danger or pain.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'physical courage' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 fits because the danger is to the body, and the phrase is uncountable, so no article or plural is needed. Option 1 describes moral courage, option 2 wrongly adds 'a', and option 3 wrongly makes it plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “physical courage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.