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valiantly

C2
adverb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /vˈælɪəntli/

US

  • /ˈvæljəntli/

Description

To act valiantly means to do something with great bravery and determination, especially when there is danger or serious difficulty. Think of a knight riding into battle: he does not simply go forward; he goes forward with courage and honor. You might use the word for a firefighter rescuing someone from a burning building, or for a small animal defending its young. It often appears in stories of adventure and heroism and carries a sense of noble, old-style bravery.

Examples

  1. 1

    Emergency response

    The firefighters worked valiantly through the night to control the blaze.

  2. 2

    Illness

    She fought valiantly against a long illness and kept encouraging everyone around her.

  3. 3

    Sports

    The smaller team played valiantly, even though they lost in the final minutes.

  4. 4

    Humorous effort

    I valiantly tried to stay awake during the last hour of the flight, but I fell asleep anyway.

    • Usage

      valiantly tried to + verb can sound slightly humorous when someone makes a brave effort but still fails

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • valiantlyadverb