hero
/ˈhɪɹ.oʊ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.68 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds.
noun
A role model.
noun
The protagonist in a work of fiction.
noun
The current player, especially a hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: villain (“any opponent player”). Not to be confused with hero call (“a weak call against a supposed bluff”).
noun
The product chosen from several candidates to be photographed, as in food advertising, or with props used in a movie.
noun
The eye-catching top portion of a web page, sometimes including a hero image; the portion above the fold.
Example Sentences
- "My mom died a hero on duty."
- ""I'm no hero," insists freckle-faced 14-year-old Freddie Hanberry. But to many of the young cancer patients, nurses and staff at University Medical Center here, he is as close as you can get. The "hero" talk began when a national magazine featured Hanberry, who has leukemia, in a special section called "100 New American Heroes.""
- "Every cancer victim is a true hero."
- "She is my hero, my heart, my baby till the end of time,” said Gabby's father"
- "Each flag represents a hero, Andrews said, whether a first responder or victim of 9/11, active, fallen, or retired military, special friend or family member."
- "At the time, with the D-Day invasion of Europe going on, their heroism was hardly noticed. Plenty of other heroes were dying elsewhere. Plenty of bigger bits of history were being made."
Etymology
From Middle English heroes, from Old French heroes, from Latin hērōs (“hero”), from Ancient Greek ἥρως (hḗrōs, “demi-god, hero”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to watch over, protect”); if so, related to Latin servo (“protect”). Displaced Middle English heleð, haleð, from Old English hæleþ, hæle.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈhɪɹ.oʊ/
- British English: /ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
Synonyms
hero sandwich
more at submarine sandwich
the brave
bully
daredevil
good guy
goodie
Hector
hero
knight in shining armor
lion
lionheart