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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

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.