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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Hero Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：brave person (hero)

hero 🔊

/ˈhɪroʊ/

A real person who is admired for doing something very brave or good, like saving someone's life or helping many people.

Hero firefighter rescuing kitten and handing to girl

brave person 🔊

➕

/breɪv ˈpɜːrsən/

A real person who is admired for doing something very brave or good, like saving someone's life or helping many people.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek hērōs, meaning 'protector' or 'demigod'.

💡 Mnemonic

He Rides On: a hero rides to the rescue on a horse (or fire truck)!

📖 Example

The firefighter who rescued the cat from the tall tree is a local hero. 🔊 The firefighter who rescued the cat from the tall tree is a local hero.

🔗 Collocations

local hero – A person admired in their own community for a brave or good deed.

hero worship – Extreme admiration for someone, often treating them as a hero.

unsung hero – A person who does great things but is not recognized or praised.

🔄 Synonyms

champion (n.) – A person who fights for a cause and is admired.

savior (n.) – Someone who saves others from danger or trouble.

idol (n.) – A person who is greatly admired and looked up to.

🚫 Antonyms

villain (n.) – An evil person who causes harm to others.

coward (n.) – A person who lacks courage in the face of danger.

traitor (n.) – Someone who betrays their country, friends, or cause.

🌱 Derivatives

heroine (n.) – A female hero.

heroic (adj.) – Showing great courage and bravery.

heroism (n.) – The quality of being a hero; great bravery.

📖 Cultural Story

In ancient Greek mythology, a hero was a demigod with extraordinary strength and courage. The term later broadened to describe any person admired for brave deeds.

Meaning 2：main male protagonist (hero)

hero 🔊

/ˈhɪroʊ/

The main male character in a story, book, or movie, who is usually the good person that people want to win.

Child reading book imagining hero knight in castle

main male protagonist 🔊

➕

/meɪn meɪl prəˈtæɡənɪst/

The main male character in a story, book, or movie, who is usually the good person that people want to win.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

My favorite part of the book is when the hero finally defeats the dragon and saves the kingdom. 🔊 My favorite part of the book is when the hero finally defeats the dragon and saves the kingdom.

🔗 Collocations

action hero – A brave male protagonist in an action story or film.

tragic hero – A main character with a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall.

hero's journey – A classic story structure where the hero goes on an adventure and transforms.

🔄 Synonyms

protagonist (n.) – The main character in a story, play, or movie.

lead (n.) – The principal actor or character in a film or play.

champion (n.) – A person who fights for a cause or is victorious in a contest.

🚫 Antonyms

villain (n.) – The evil character who opposes the hero.

antagonist (n.) – A character who actively works against the protagonist.

sidekick (n.) – A less important character who assists the hero (not an antonym, but often contrasted).

🌱 Derivatives

heroine (n.) – A female main character in a story.

heroic (adj.) – Relating to or characteristic of a hero in a story.

anti-hero (n.) – A main character who lacks traditional heroic qualities.