Langimage
English

heroes

|he-roes|

A2

🇺🇸

/ˈhiːroʊz/

🇬🇧

/ˈhɪərəʊz/

(hero)

admired protector

Base FormPlural
heroheroes
Etymology
Etymology Information

'hero' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'hērōs', where 'hērōs' meant 'demigod' or 'protector'.

Historical Evolution

'hero' passed into Latin as 'heros', was used in Old French as 'heros', and entered Middle English from these classical and Romance-language forms to become modern English 'hero'.

Meaning Changes

Initially it meant 'demigod or mighty protector', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person admired for courage, noble qualities, or great achievements'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

plural of 'hero': people admired for courage, noble qualities, or outstanding achievements.

The firefighters were hailed as heroes after they rescued the family.

Synonyms

Antonyms

villainscowards

Noun 2

(figurative) People admired for achievements in a particular field (sports, arts, science) and beloved by the public.

Sports heroes often inspire young athletes to train harder.

Synonyms

iconsidols

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/10/31 07:40