embrace

1 of 2

verb

em·​brace im-ˈbrās How to pronounce embrace (audio)
embraced; embracing

transitive verb

1
a
: to clasp in the arms : hug
b
2
3
a
: to take up especially readily or gladly
embrace a cause
b
: to avail oneself of : welcome
embraced the opportunity to study further
4
a
: to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole
charity embraces all acts that contribute to human welfare
b
: to be equal or equivalent to
his assets embraced $10

intransitive verb

: to participate in an embrace
embraceable adjective
embracement noun
embracer noun
embracingly adverb

embrace

2 of 2

noun

1
: a close encircling with the arms and pressure to the chest especially as a sign of affection : hug
2
: grip, encirclement
in the embrace of terror
3
: acceptance
her embrace of new ideas
Choose the Right Synonym for embrace

adopt, embrace, espouse mean to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own.

adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature.

forced to adopt new policies

embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance.

embraced the customs of their new homeland

espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes.

espoused the cause of women's rights

include, comprehend, embrace, involve mean to contain within as part of the whole.

include suggests the containment of something as a constituent, component, or subordinate part of a larger whole.

the price of dinner includes dessert

comprehend implies that something comes within the scope of a statement or definition.

his system comprehends all history

embrace implies a gathering of separate items within a whole.

her faith embraces both Christian and non-Christian beliefs

involve suggests inclusion by virtue of the nature of the whole, whether by being its natural or inevitable consequence.

the new job involves a lot of detail

Examples of embrace in a Sentence

Verb They embraced one last time before going their separate ways. a politician who has been embraced by conservatives Charity embraces all acts of generous giving. It's a subject that embraces many areas of learning. Noun He held her in a warm embrace.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But until big companies more fully embrace those appetites, old gadgets will sometimes continue to be the best gadgets. Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Benefits matter, as does having a culture that embraces working caregivers. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 Many of the companies embraced the idea of a permitting process, despite city officials suggesting new requirements like insurance policies and new fees for things like equipment setup. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 After watching Carpenter perform a third time in Singapore, the two were seen embracing one another backstage in a fan video on TikTok. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Tumi Golf Cigar Case $175 Part of the goal with this line was to embrace the whole golf experience, not just the gear needed to play the game itself. Red Fabbri, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2024 The movie, starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, has been embraced in the U.S. and Canada. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024 Evangelicals were mixed on its morality, and secular people embraced it with few qualms. Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Schneider, a former mayor, acknowledges being the underdog and embraces the role. Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
Publisher responses span from full embrace to outright rejection over authenticity concerns. Anat (anne Moss) El Hashahar, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 That glow was fueled Tuesday by the newest Dodger, who introduced himself with an embrace that looked like spring but felt like autumn. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 At the checkpoint, around 7 p.m., four hours after he was detained, Mohammed was released to the embraces of his family. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 From the welcoming embrace of a foyer to the tranquil sanctuary of a bedroom, every space becomes a canvas for her floral alchemy. Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024 Mulligan then dropped to her knees to give Stone a long hug, and the two spoke quietly into each other's ears during the embrace as an announcer counted off the seconds to the end of the break. USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 That was when a productivity surge — an early payoff from the sudden embrace of laptops, cellphones and the internet — helped allow the Federal Reserve to keep borrowing rates low because inflation remained under control even as the economy and the job market sizzled. Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2024 When Francis reveals the depth of his devotion to Dale’s music, the saxophonist shakes the younger man’s hand with a fluttering of fingers that has the power of an embrace. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 Following the trophy presentation, the two shared a long embrace and kissed on the field. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 11 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'embrace.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French embracer, from en- + brace pair of arms — more at brace entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of embrace was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near embrace

Cite this Entry

“Embrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embrace. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

embrace

1 of 2 verb
em·​brace im-ˈbrās How to pronounce embrace (audio)
embraced; embracing
1
: to clasp in the arms : hug
2
: to enclose on all sides
low hills embraced the valley
3
a
: to take up readily or gladly
embrace a cause
b
: to make use of : welcome
embrace an opportunity
4
embraceable
-ˈbrā-sə-bəl
adjective
embracer noun

embrace

2 of 2 noun
: a close encircling with the arms : hug
Etymology

Verb

early French embracer "to hug, embrace," literally, "to put into the two arms," from em- "into" and brace "two arms," derived from Latin bracchium "arm" — related to brace entry 1, bracelet

Word Origin
One of the meanings of the English word brace is "two of a kind," as in "a brace of quail." In early French, however, the word brace, from which we get our English words brace and embrace, had a more limited meaning of "two arms." The early French brace came from the plural form of the Latin word bracchium, meaning "arm." When combined with the early French prefix em-, meaning "to put into," the word formed the verb embracer, which meant literally "to put into the two arms"; in other words, "to hug." In time the word was borrowed into English and became embrace.

More from Merriam-Webster on embrace

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!