heroic

UK: /hɪˈrəʊɪk/ US: /hɪˈroʊɪk/ ,(hi rō′ik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

he•ro•ic /hɪˈroʊɪk/   adj. 

Also, heˈro•i•cal. 
1. of, relating to, or like a hero or heroine.
2. having or involving daring or forceful action:
   took heroic measures to save the child's life.
3. Literature dealing with heroes and heroines:
   [before a noun] heroic literature.

n. 

4. heroics, [plural]
   • language or behavior that is flamboyantly heroic:
     Leave the heroics to the police.

he•ro•i•cal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

he•ro•ic  (hi rō′ik), adj. 

1. Also, he•ro′i•cal. 
2. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a hero or heroine.
3. suitable to the character of a hero in size or concept; daring;
   noble:
   a heroic ambition.
4. having or displaying the character or attributes of a hero;
   extraordinarily bold, altruistic, determined, etc.:
   a heroic explorer.
5. having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures:
   Heroic measures were taken to save his life.
6. Literature dealing with or describing the deeds, attributes, etc., of heroes, as in literature.
7. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the heroes of antiquity:
   heroic mythology.
8. Literature, Poetry used in heroic poetry. Cf. heroic verse.
9. Literature resembling heroic poetry in language or style;
   grandiloquent.
10. Literature (of style or language) lofty;
    extravagant;
    grand.
11. larger than life-size:
    a statue of heroic proportions.

n. 

12. Literature, Poetry Usually, heroics. See heroic verse. 
13. heroics:
    • flamboyant or extravagant language, sentiment, or behavior, intended to seem heroic.
    • heroic action or behavior.

• Greek hērōïkós of, pertaining to a hero; compare late Middle English heroical, heroicus; see hero, -ic
• Latin hērōicus
• 1540–50

he•ro′i•cal•ly, adv. 
he•ro′i•cal•ness, he•ro′ic•ness, he•ro•ic•i•ty  (hēr′ō is′i tē), n.  Synonyms

• 2, 3. dauntless, valiant, valorous, gallant, brave, courageous.
• 8. epic.

Antonyms

• 1. –3. cowardly.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

heroic / hɪˈrəʊɪk/, heroical adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a hero
2. courageous but desperate
3. relating to or treating of heroes and their deeds
4. of, relating to, or resembling the heroes of classical mythology
5. (of language, manner, etc) extravagant
6. of, relating to, or resembling heroic verse
7. (of the arts, esp sculpture) larger than life-size; smaller than colossal

heˈroically adverb