Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

embrace

1 American  
[em-breys] / ɛmˈbreɪs /

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 American  
[em-breys] / ɛmˈbreɪs /

verb (used with object)

Law.
embraced, embracing

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

embrace 1 British  
/ 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

"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

noun

  1. the act of embracing

  2. euphemistic (often plural) sexual intercourse

"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
embrace 2 British  
/ ɪmˈbreɪs /

verb

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

"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

Related Words

See include.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It was really cool to embrace all the families, see all the excitement,” Rojas said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Vice President JD Vance announced in the midst of the war that he is publishing a book on his embrace of Catholicism called "Communion."

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

He added: "You can be stuck anywhere for years and years but there's nothing like your mind. Embrace your mind and embrace your thoughts."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Sooner or later we must stop believing in fairy tales and repeated broken promises, and embrace reality again.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Gingersnipes wrapped Clare in an embrace, which did not take away the pain but did soothe his trembling.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.