- the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain, etc
- the courage of one's convictions ⇒ the confidence to act in accordance with one's beliefs
- take one's courage in both hands ⇒ to nerve oneself to perform an action
- obsolete mind; disposition; spirit
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
cour•age /ˈkɜrɪdʒ, ˈkʌr-/USA pronunciation
n.
cou•ra•geous•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable]
- the quality of mind that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, etc., without fear; bravery.
cou•ra•geous•ly, adv.
cour•age
(kûr′ij, kur′-),USA pronunciation n.
- the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear;
bravery. - [Obs.]the heart as the source of emotion.
- Idioms have the courage of one's convictions, to act in accordance with one's beliefs, esp. in spite of criticism.
- Latin cor; see heart) + -age -age
- Old French, equivalent. to cuer heart (
- Middle English corage 1250–1300
- 1. fearlessness, dauntlessness, intrepidity, pluck, spirit. Courage, bravery, valor, bravado refer to qualities of spirit and conduct. Courage permits one to face extreme dangers and difficulties without fear:to take(or lose) courage. Bravery implies true courage with daring and an intrepid boldness:bravery in a battle.Valor implies heroic courage:valor in fighting for the right.Bravado is now usually a boastful and ostentatious pretense of courage or bravery:empty bravado.
- 1. cowardice.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
courage /ˈkʌrɪdʒ/ n