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

• hug
• clasp
• cling
• cradle

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

Laube, who previously ran the Libertarian Party of Iowa, and his allies promised to run Libertarian candidates, reverse the decline in their voting base and repudiate the caustic public image embraced by the party’s now-former leaders. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025

While for many Americans speaking another language is seen as something extraordinary, true empowerment when traveling comes from embracing linguistic diversity, not expecting the entire world to speak English. —Wilson Santiago Burgos, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025

Noun

Not everyone sees Saudi Arabia’s embrace of global fashion houses as benign cultural exchange. —Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025

While most of us would see a hug as something positive, new research from New York's Binghamton University suggests that not every embrace comes from a place of affection—in fact, quite the opposite. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for embrace

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

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.