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

---

noun

1. the act of embracing

2. euphemistic (often plural) sexual intercourse

embrace ² British  

/ ɪmˈbreɪs /

verb

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

---

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”; see 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

Explanation

To embrace something is to welcome it with open arms, hold, hug, accept completely. You might embrace your sweetheart, or even changes in technology. Embrace is from the French verb embrasser, which started out meaning "to clasp in the arms" (but now includes kissing). You embrace someone by giving her a giant hug, and when you embrace a new idea, it's like your brain gives it a hug. The noun and verb form are similar: If you embrace someone who isn't your sweetheart, you might get caught in an embrace. In Henry IV, Shakespeare writes about a really, really tight embrace: "I will embrace him with a soldier's arm/That he shall shrink under my courtesy."

Example Sentences

In the end, Manzo’s crusade would cost him his life — and force Quiroz to make a painful decision: abandon her husband’s fight, or embrace it as her own.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

"There's enough capital to enthusiastically embrace these three companies if they are priced correctly," Roberts said.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

"We know that Mark Carney wants to sort of embrace Europe," he said.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

While seemingly every retail executive has talked up their efforts to embrace artificial intelligence over the past few years, actual help from AI assistants remains glitchy.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

His mom released her embrace, and he hugged his dad.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Related Words

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