Word
valiant
US/ˈvæɫjənt/
UK/vˈælɪənt/
Definition
adj. showing great courage or determination, especially in a very difficult situation. You use this to describe someone who tries very hard even if they might not win.
adj. possessing or showing courage or determination in the face of danger or difficulty. Often carries a connotation of noble effort despite likely failure.
Examples
“The firefighters made a valiant effort to save the building.”
“Despite their valiant defense of the city, the outnumbered soldiers were eventually forced to retreat.”
“The explorer's valiant attempt to reach the summit alone became a legendary tale of human endurance, even though he was turned back by the storm just meters from the peak.”
Examples
simple
“The firefighters made a valiant effort to save the building.”
contextual
“Despite their valiant defense of the city, the outnumbered soldiers were eventually forced to retreat.”
complex
“The explorer's valiant attempt to reach the summit alone became a legendary tale of human endurance, even though he was turned back by the storm just meters from the peak.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun like 'effort', 'attempt', or 'struggle'.
Real-World Examples
“A valiant hero like none other in the book, he battles with divs (devils), gets kings out of sticky situations, and, like Hercules, undergoes seven trials.” “So, Cahuzac’s tenure begins with a valiant 2-1 defeat.” “It is almost a bittersweet bookend that a career of public diplomacy that began trying to save a war gone wrong now ends with a valiant effort to keep another war from going wrong.” Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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