embrace

[ em-breys ]

/ ɛmˈbreɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR embrace ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.

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

to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.

to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.

to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.

to take in with the eye or the mind.

to encircle; surround; enclose.

to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.

verb (used without object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.

to join in an embrace.

noun

an act or instance of embracing.

Nearby words

Origin of embrace

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French embracier, equivalent to em- em-¹ + bracier to embrace, derivative of brace the two arms; see brace

SYNONYMS FOR embrace

2. adopt, espouse, welcome. 3. seize. 7. comprise, cover, embody. See include.

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ANTONYMS FOR embrace

7. exclude.

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Related formsem·brace·a·ble, adjectiveem·brace·ment, nounem·brac·er, nounun·em·brace·a·ble, adjective

embrace

[ em-breys ]

/ ɛmˈbreɪs /

verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing. Law.

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

Origin of embrace

1400–1450; late Middle English: to influence, prejudice, bribe (a jury), perhaps the same word as embrace¹, influenced by embrasen to set on fire (< Middle French embraser; see em-¹, braise)

Related formsem·brac·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for embrace

Is there any chance the potential 2016 hopeful will stand up to the right and embrace paid sick leave?
Christie Blames Parents for Bad Economy|Monica Potts|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The question is will we see regime changes in both Hamas and Israel that embrace a lasting peace?
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We happily hoist our egg nog in the air, embrace each other, and raise our out-of-tune voices in song.
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Sanders to do that, he said, “he would have to embrace a radically different form of politics.”
Why the Left Loves Warren, But Won’t Swoon for Sanders|David Freedlander|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Branch helped women feel beautiful by encouraging them to embrace their natural selves as she had.
Goodbye To A Natural Hair Guru: Miss Jessie's Cofounder Titi Branch Dead At 45|Danielle Belton|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You enter the mouth of a valley; the hills reach forth their arms to embrace you, and you consciously enter a new world.
The Alps|Martin Conway
Fearful that if he put his arms round her, he would feel me, Kathleen raised herself, and allowed him to embrace her.
Japhet in Search of a Father|Frederick Marryat
In the midst of my concentrated rage, I was obliged to advance and embrace her, and there was an end of happiness for the day.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)|Maria Edgeworth
She instantly comprehended his permission and threw herself into her lover's embrace.
Monte-Cristo's Daughter|Edmund Flagg
He bent toward her and, throwing his arms about her, again endeavored to draw her back into his embrace, but she resisted.
The Black Pearl|Mrs. Wilson Woodrow

British Dictionary definitions for embrace

embrace

/ (ɪmˈbreɪs) /

verb (mainly tr)

(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

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

to take up (a new idea, faith, etc); adoptto embrace Judaism

to comprise or include as an integral partgeology embraces the science of mineralogy

to encircle or enclose

noun

the act of embracing

(often plural) euphemistic sexual intercourse

Derived Formsembraceable, adjectiveembracement, nounembracer, noun

Word Origin for embrace

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

verb

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

Word Origin for embrace

C15: back formation from embraceor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for embrace

embrace

mid-14c., from Old French embracer (12c., Modern French embrasser) "clasp in the arms, enclose; covet, handle, cope with," from en- "in" (see en- (1)) + brace, braz "the arms," from Latin bracchium (neuter plural brachia); see brace (n.). Related: Embraced; embracing; embraceable. Replaced Old English clyppan, also fæðm.

embrace

1590s, from embrace (v.).

embrace

verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.

verb (used without object), em·braced, em·brac·ing.

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of embrace

embrace

verb (used with object), em·braced, em·brac·ing. Law.

Origin of embrace

Examples from the Web for embrace

embrace

verb (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for embrace

verb

Word Origin for embrace

embrace

embrace