- the ability and determination to do something successfully despite difficult conditions
- The next game will be a real test of their mettle.
- She really showed her mettle under pressure.
Word Originmid 16th cent.: specialized spelling (used for figurative senses) of metal.
Idioms
See mettle in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryon your mettle
- prepared to use all your skills, knowledge, etc. because you are being tested
- The team will be on their mettle for the big game.
Check pronunciation:
mettle