embrace

[em-breys]

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.

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

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

Synonyms for embrace

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR embrace ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Antonyms for embrace

7. exclude.

embrace

[em-breys]

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

Related Words for embracing

grasp, adopt, receive, welcome, accept, have, espouse, embody, nuzzle, lock, clinch, fold, wrap, fondle, cradle, cling, entwine, snuggle, grip, encircle

Examples from the Web for embracing

Contemporary Examples of embracing

Soon enough, Castro turned his back on those ideals, embracing Soviet style communism.
Cuba Is A Kleptocracy, Not Communist
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena
December 19, 2014
The important thing about embracing success, they say, is not to rest on your laurels.
OK Go Is Helping Redefine the Music Video For the Internet Age
Lauren Schwartzberg
December 15, 2014
On her own path, though, the “relationship know-it-all” is embracing her own, different natural progression.
Confessions of a Rom-Com Writer: Liz Tuccillo Talks ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Take Care,’ and More
Kevin Fallon
December 5, 2014
Embracing those fleeing war in the Middle East would come at a high political, economic, and (potentially) public health cost.
Pope Bids Refugees to EU ‘Bienvenido’; Europe Says ‘Non’
Candida Moss
November 30, 2014
She attacks the modern Environmental Defense Fund for embracing markets and corporate partners.
Naomi Klein’s ‘This Changes Everything’ Will Change Nothing
Michael Signer
November 17, 2014

Historical Examples of embracing

The whole theatre would know that he had been embracing the girl!
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
It admits of but one attribution, and that embracing an identical proposition.
Life: Its True Genesis
R. W. Wright
Do you suppose there is any hope of your embracing the Faith?
Astounding Stories of Super-Science September 1930
Various
We were all embracing each other, and shedding tears of joy.
Memoirs Of The Court Of Marie Antoinette, Queen Of France, Complete
Madame Campan
Was it reasonable to keep on quarreling when the whole village was embracing?
The Fte At Coqueville
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for embracing

embrace

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

embrace

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 embracing

embrace

1590s, from embrace (v.).

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.