embrace

¹

[em-breys]

verb (used with object)

embraced, embracing 

1. to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.

2. to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly.

   to embrace an idea.

   Synonyms: welcome, espouse, adopt

3. to avail oneself of.

   to embrace an opportunity.

   Synonyms: seize

4. to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.).

   to embrace Buddhism.

5. to take in with the eye or the mind.

6. to encircle; surround; enclose.

   a secret garden embraced by wild shrubs.

7. to include or contain.

   An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.

   Synonyms: embody, cover, comprise
   Antonyms: exclude

verb (used without object)

embraced, embracing 

1. to join in an embrace.

noun

1. an act or instance of embracing.

embrace

²

[em-breys]

verb (used with object)

Law.

embraced, embracing 

1. to attempt to influence (a judge or jury) through corrupt means.

embrace

¹

/ ɪmˈbreɪs /

verb

1. (also intr) (of a person) to take or clasp (another person) in the arms, or (of two people) to clasp each other, as in affection, greeting, etc; hug

2. to accept (an opportunity, challenge, etc) willingly or eagerly

3. to take up (a new idea, faith, etc); adopt

   to embrace Judaism

4. to comprise or include as an integral part

   geology embraces the science of mineralogy

5. to encircle or enclose

noun

1. the act of embracing

2. euphemistic,  (often plural) sexual intercourse

embrace

²

/ ɪmˈbreɪs /

verb

1. (tr) criminal law to commit or attempt to commit embracery against (a jury, etc)

Other Word Forms

• embraceable adjective
• embracement noun
• embracer noun
• unembraceable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embrace¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French embracier, equivalent to em- em- ¹ + bracier “to embrace,” derivative of brace “the two arms”; brace

Origin of embrace²

First recorded in 1420–1475; late Middle English: “to influence, prejudice, bribe (a jury),” perhaps the same word as embrace ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of embrace¹

C14: from Old French embracier, from _em- + brace a pair of arms, from Latin bracchia arms

Origin of embrace²

C15: back formation from _embraceor

Synonym Study

See include.

Example Sentences

She sank to her knees in tears after Amanjot Kaur hit the winning boundary and later embraced her emotional parents on the sidelines.

Read more on Barron's

“His work made me feel seen and inspired me to embrace my own love for the eerie and the extraordinary,” she says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“But Rossi embraced it and owned it—it made sense to him.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I studied music and started writing with other artists, and I embrace it so much.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Lately I’ve been thinking about embracing my problem and adopting the stiff, scowling 19th-century portrait position, but that pairs even worse with a beaming kid.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accept 
• adopt 
• deal with 
• embody 
• espouse 
• have 
• receive 
• take advantage of 
• take up 
• welcome