embrace

1 of 2

verb

em·​brace im-ˈbrās 

embraced; embracing

transitive verb

1

a

: to clasp in the arms : hug

b

: cherish, love

2

: encircle, enclose

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

im-ˈbrā-sə-bəl 

adjective

embracement

im-ˈbrās-mənt 

noun

embracer noun

embracingly

im-ˈbrā-siŋ-lē 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• bear-hug
• clasp
• crush
• enclasp
• enfold
• grasp
• hug
• strain

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

While critics mostly scoffed at the movie, general audiences — and families — embraced director Adam Wingard’s vision of what would happen if Godzilla and Kong joined forces and stop the planet from being destroyed, the opposite of his 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong, which saw the two battle. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

Seasons: 1 How to watch:Paramount+ Flavor: The first international spinoff, set near the iconic Sydney Harbor bridge, embraces U.S.-Aussie cultural differences while still solving crimes. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

Comedy nerds and oddballs of all stripes embraced the show, especially its singularly off-putting heroine, a woman with a garish overbite, a sordid past and a strangely infectious nasal drawl. —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024

Biden embraced Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the airport tarmac to show solidarity. —Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024

But alongside a few other hoteliers around Como, my family and I have embraced the challenge of extending the season. —Lee Marshall, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

For her spring collection—Comme Moi shows in a see now, buy now cadence—Yan embraced her spring fever with a playful lineup. —Vogue, 6 Apr. 2024

Sofia Vergara is no stranger to mob wife looks, having fully embraced the Queenpin-core vibe on the Griselda press tour in bulky gold jewelry and a variety of cleavage-forward black 'fits. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2024

The Biden administration has called for careful monitoring of AI’s development in medicine, but also embraced its greater possibilities. —Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024

Noun

This generally positive public disposition to China has allowed the Kremlin to enter a closer economic, technological, and political embrace with Beijing than ever before. —Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024

Maybe thanks to the warm embrace of her boyfriend Benny Blanco? —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024

The clip swiftly went viral through the artist’s fanbase, followed by popularity on TikTok and then a warm embrace on streaming services. —Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2024

Vacancies in Detroit office space, like that in cities nationwide, have been on the rise since the pandemic and employers' embrace of remote and hybrid work policies. —Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024

Despite not posing together until now, Keoghan and Carpenter have been romantically linked since late 2023, and were spotted sharing a sweet embrace following her Eras Tour performance in Singapore last Monday. —Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

As the confetti rained down on the Municipal Auditorium court on Tuesday night, Freed-Hardeman University’s Devin Tomlinson and Quan Lax rolled around in a euphoric embrace. —Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2024

After a few attempts, Ringo accepted the embrace, then welcomed it. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024

After a victory over Arizona on Feb. 12, senior Kayla Padilla received a warm embrace from Miller, beaming wide when asked about it postgame. —Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2024

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

Kids Definition

embrace

1 of 2 verb

em·​brace im-ˈbrās 

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

: take in sense 4, include

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.