embrace
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- seize
-
to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.).
to embrace Buddhism.
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to take in with the eye or the mind.
-
to encircle; surround; enclose.
a secret garden embraced by wild shrubs.
-
to include or contain.
An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.
- Antonyms:
- exclude
verb (used without object)
noun
verb (used with object)
verb
-
(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); adopt
to embrace Judaism
-
to comprise or include as an integral part
geology embraces the science of mineralogy
-
to encircle or enclose
noun
-
the act of embracing
-
euphemistic (often plural) sexual intercourse
verb
Synonym Usage
See include.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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."
Vocabulary lists containing embrace
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Of Mice and Men
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"Of Mice and Men"
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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.
See Examples For:
His contemporaries would have been surprised to learn that Romans came to embrace Christianity in the fourth century.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Psychiatry’s embrace of Dr. Snyder’s finding was foreshadowed by a convergence of pre-existing forces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
She added: "The new uniform empowers girls and volunteers to embrace their individuality."
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Although some companies may be shy about sharing their AI plans, big stars who don’t have to answer to others have been more open about their embrace of the new technology for storytelling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
I broke free of the Angel’s embrace and raced toward my father as the two sailors lifted him.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
“It’s a modern kind of feminism that embraces self assurance and femininity on your own terms.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
So her queerness is kind of counter to her self-image and once she embraces it, she embraces it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Stokes remained composed after England's 160-run defeat, which confirms a 2-1 series loss, sharing embraces with his opposition and briefly waving to the crowd after his post-match interviews.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
While Mrs. Bennet abhors glasses on women, Mary embraces them, the better to read her books with.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
He embraces Mama, who breaks down, sobbing in his arms.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
She had been considering a tattoo for some time, and embraced the chance to go for it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Investors and analysts have embraced the idea of a merger following a record-setting IPO for SpaceX, which raised $86 billion for the company in June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
As he stuck his landing, his coach Jake Seager fell to his knees celebrating before the two embraced.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
More tolerant groups showed higher levels of reassuring touch, including what researchers described as "reassurance trains", in which multiple apes embraced one another in succession.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
This was nothing I’d necessarily want to embroider on a pillow, but still, once the answer left my mouth, I embraced it as a perfectly acceptable teaching philosophy.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
She isn’t letting the hype surrounding the show make her nervous, and said she remains focused on embracing the role.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Matt Damon is embracing a new chapter in life—and his carefully curated real estate portfolio reflects the family-first priorities that have guided him for years.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Matt Damon is embracing a new chapter in life—and his Oscr-worthy real estate portfolio reflects the family-first priorities that have guided him for years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Researchers recorded instances of reassuring physical contact, including touching, embracing and kissing.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Then I listened in amazement as Hamlet related how he had gone with Horatio to the parapet last night, to the very place of our embracing.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
