embrace

¹

[ em-breys ]

verb (used with object)

, em·braced, em·brac·ing.

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)

, em·braced, em·brac·ing.

1. to join in an embrace.

noun

1. an act or instance of embracing.

embrace

²

[ em-breys ]

verb (used with object)

, Law.

, em·braced, em·brac·ing.

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

embrace

¹

/ ɪmˈbreɪs /

verb

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

embrace

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• emˈbraceable, adjective
• emˈbracer, noun
• emˈbracement, noun

Other Words From

• em·brace·a·ble adjective
• em·brace·ment noun
• em·brac·er noun
• un·em·brace·a·ble 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

C15: back formation from embraceor

Origin of embrace²

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

Synonym Study

See include.

Example Sentences

The Washington Post’s Christopher Ingraham documented research showing how Republicans were far more likely than Democrats to embrace “democratic backsliding” — a “retreat from upholding democratic norms,” as one expert put it.

From Washington Post

This is a senior elected official in a large state, embracing the idea that what happened at the Capitol wasn’t what happened at the Capitol.

From Washington Post

For that, you need a story, a philosophy embraced in the scented candle industry, which has been booming in the pandemic.

From Washington Post

She cares about nothing more than getting back to where she came from, even as 2001’s Dullea is in flight, accepting his exile and even embracing it.

From Nautilus

First Amendment devotees embraced him as “the Horatio Alger of the sexual revolution,” as a New York Times article once put it.

From Washington Post

Is there any chance the potential 2016 hopeful will stand up to the right and embrace paid sick leave?

From The Daily Beast

The question is will we see regime changes in both Hamas and Israel that embrace a lasting peace?

From The Daily Beast

We happily hoist our egg nog in the air, embrace each other, and raise our out-of-tune voices in song.

From The Daily Beast

For Sanders to do that, he said, “he would have to embrace a radically different form of politics.”

From The Daily Beast

Wellington, New Zealand Our Oceania pick is the latest city to wholeheartedly embrace the global Brooklyn movement.

From The Daily Beast

That embrace, that grin and that heart-born exclamation marked the entrance of the Pulsifer family into my life.

From Project Gutenberg

Covenanting, whether Personal or Social, ought to embrace present and permanent duty.

From Project Gutenberg

Tim seized it, but he brought his other arm around her waist and lifted her from the floor in one mighty embrace.

From Project Gutenberg

We will accept it gladly, Maurille, and I must embrace you because you nursed the mother of her whom I love best on earth.

From Project Gutenberg

Jessie felt an inclination to embrace the speaker who had quite innocently helped her out of the hole.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hug
• squeeze