Gallantly
adv.resilient, kindliterary
What it means
With brave, honorable effort, especially when helping or protecting others.
Reach for it when praising the manner of a courageous action without claiming it succeeded
The crew worked gallantly to bring every passenger ashore.
Choose between these
6- playful
chivalrously
old-fashioned courtesy toward another person is intended
not when Chivalrously carries gendered historical baggage and can sound patronizing today.
- everyday
courage in the face of danger is the central fact
not when Bravely does not add gallantly's suggestion of honor or service to others.
- formal
measured praise for facing serious risk is needed
not when Courageously sounds weighty for a merely courteous or sporting gesture.
- formal
moral dignity matters more than physical danger
not when Nobly can praise a principle without the active daring carried by gallantly.
- literary
the action involved exceptional sacrifice for other people
not when Heroically overstates admirable effort that remained within normal duty.
- literary
determined effort continued against formidable odds
not when Valiantly focuses on struggle and fits poorly for gracious social conduct.
Said against
3- cowardly
- dishonorably
- selfishly
It naturally appears in
3- fought gallantly
The underdogs fought gallantly and congratulated the winners afterward.
- served gallantly
She served gallantly during the evacuation and shared the citation with her crew.
- acted gallantly
The guide acted gallantly when the sudden current trapped two swimmers.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English adverb sense: in a brave or chivalrous manner opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.