gallant

Brave and willing to help, often showing respectful care towards women.

• The gallant soldier rescued his friend.
• They made a gallant effort to save the ship.
• A gallant knight protected the travellers.

Similar words: brave, valiant, chivalrous

Opposites: cowardly

Common phrases: gallant soldier, gallant effort, gallant knight

Polite and helpful towards women, for example by opening doors or offering a seat.

• He made a gallant gesture and offered her his seat.
• Her gallant companion held the door open.
• It was gallant of you to carry my bags.

How to use it: gallant towards someone (He was always gallant towards the women he met.)

Similar words: chivalrous, courteous, gentlemanly

Opposites: discourteous

Common phrases: gallant gesture, gallant gentleman, gallant towards women

Behaving in a way that deserves respect because it is fair and morally good.

• His gallant conduct earned their respect.
• She praised the gallant deed in her letter.
• The story presents him as a gallant gentleman who always keeps his promises.

Similar words: honourable, noble, upright

Opposites: dishonourable

Common phrases: gallant conduct, gallant deed, gallant gentleman

Looking grand, impressive, or noble.

• A gallant ship entered the harbour.
• The prince looked gallant in his fine robes.
• They watched the gallant vessel sail away.

Similar words: grand, splendid, magnificent

Common phrases: gallant ship, gallant vessel, gallant appearance

A man who tries to win someone's love or has a romantic relationship with them.

• A young gallant brought her roses.
• She refused to dance with either of her gallants.
• The handsome gallant waited beneath her window.

Similar words: suitor, lover, admirer

Common phrases: young gallant, her gallant, handsome gallant

An upper sail, or the part of a ship's mast that supports it, above the topsail.

• The crew lowered the gallant.
• A strong wind tore the gallant.
• The sailor climbed up to inspect the gallant.

Similar words: topgallant

Common phrases: fore gallant, main gallant, lower the gallant

To accompany someone and help them get to a place.

• He offered to gallant her home.
• The host gallanted his guests to the door.
• She allowed him to gallant her through the crowded hall.

How to use it: gallant someone to somewhere (He gallanted her to the carriage.)

Similar words: escort, accompany

Common phrases: gallant someone home, gallant someone along

To behave like a polite, attentive gentleman, especially towards women.

• He liked to gallant with the ladies.
• The young men gallanted about town in their finest clothes.
• He spent the evening gallanting rather than discussing business.

Similar words: act the gentleman, court

Common phrases: gallant with someone, gallant about town