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

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verb (used without object)

embraced, embracing

1. to join in an embrace.

noun

embraces plural

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.

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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

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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)

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Synonym Usage

See include.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• embracement
  noun
• embracer
  noun
• embraceable
  adjective
• unembraceable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• embraces
  plural

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

"Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we're excited to embrace," said head coach Steve Borthwick.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

"This is a painful situation for our country, but it is already showing what our people are like," she said, adding that "I want to embrace these families and tell them: you are not alone."

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

For many years, the Supreme Court refused to embrace this two-dimensional conception of equal protection.

From Slate • Jun. 22, 2026

Schwab isn’t the first mainstream brokerage to offer some form of prediction market, and rivals such as Robinhood and Interactive Brokers were quick to embrace what had emerged as a popular tool among many traders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Adam’s mother ran the farm, bore Adam, and still had time to embrace a primitive theosophy.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

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