embodied; embodying
Synonyms of embody

transitive verb

1
: to give a body to (a spirit) : incarnate
2
a
: to deprive of spirituality
b
: to make concrete and perceptible
3
: to cause to become a body or part of a body : incorporate
4
: to represent in human or animal form : personify
… men who greatly embodied the idealism of American life …—A. M. Schlesinger born 1917
embodier noun

Examples of embody in a Sentence

The legislature embodied a revenue provision in the new law. they must embody their ideas in substantial institutions if they are to survive
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the cold, analytical qualities typical of both science and documentary film give way to something tender and embodied in Johnson’s hands. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 From language models to embodied AI Large language models (LLMS), Balzona told us, work primarily from digital information. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026 The dynamic between them essentially embodies the traditional animosity between the clubs. — Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 People are complicated, and Juno Temple understands the character well enough to embody Keeley’s contradictions and make sense of them, most of the time. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for embody

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of embody was in 1548

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Cite this Entry

“Embody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embody. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

embodied; embodying
1
: to give definite form to
embodied her ideas in suitable words
2
: to cause to become a body or a part of a body or system
the Constitution embodies the fundamental laws of the United States
3
: to represent in visible form
a leader who embodies courage
embodier noun
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