Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense embraces, present participle embracing, past tense, past participle embraced
1. verb
If you embrace someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, usually in order to show your love or affection for them. You can also say that two people embrace.
Penelope came forward and embraced her sister. [VERB noun]
At first people were sort of crying for joy and embracing each other. [VERB noun]
He threw his arms round her and they embraced passionately. [VERB]
Synonyms: hug, hold, cuddle, seize More Synonyms of embrace
Embrace is also a noun.
...a young couple locked in an embrace.
2. verb
If you embrace a change, political system, or idea, you accept it and start supporting it or believing in it.
[formal]
He embraces the new information age. [VERB noun]
The new rules have been embraced by government watchdog organizations. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: accept, support, receive, welcome More Synonyms of embrace
Embrace is also a noun.
The marriage signalled James's embrace of the Catholic faith. [+ of]
3. verb
If something embraces a group of people, things, or ideas, it includes them in a larger group or category.
[formal]
...a theory that would embrace the whole field of human endeavour. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: include, involve, cover, deal with More Synonyms of embrace
More Synonyms of embrace
embrace in British English1
(ɪmˈbreɪs)
verb(mainly tr)
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
6.
the act of embracing
7. (often plural) euphemistic
sexual intercourse
Derived forms
embraceable (emˈbraceable)
adjective
embracement (emˈbracement)
noun
embracer (emˈbracer)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French embracier, from em- + brace a pair of arms, from Latin bracchia arms
embrace in British English2
(ɪmˈbreɪs)
verb
(transitive) criminal law
to commit or attempt to commit embracery against (a jury, etc)
Word origin
C15: back formation from embraceor
embrace in American English1
(ɛmˈbreɪs; ɪmˈbreɪs)
verb transitiveWord forms: emˈbraced or emˈbracing
1.
to clasp in the arms, usually as an expression of affection or desire; hug
2.
to accept readily; avail oneself of
to embrace an opportunity
3.
to take up or adopt, esp. eagerly or seriously
to embrace a new profession
4.
to encircle; surround; enclose
an isle embraced by the sea
5.
to include; contain
biology embraces botany and zoology
6.
to take in mentally; perceive
his glance embraced the scene
verb intransitive
7.
to clasp or hug each other in the arms
noun
8.
an embracing; hug
SIMILAR WORDS: inˈclude
Derived forms
embraceable (emˈbraceable)
adjective
embracement (emˈbracement)
noun
embracer (emˈbracer)
noun
Word origin
ME embracen < OFr embracier < VL *imbrachiare < L im-, in + brachium, an arm: see brace1
embrace in American English2
(ɛmˈbreɪs)
verb transitiveWord forms: emˈbraced or emˈbracing
Law
to try illegally to influence or instruct (a jury)
Word origin
ME embrasen < OFr embraser, to set on fire, incite < en-, in + braise, live coals: see braise
Examples of 'embrace' in a sentence
embrace
He also wants to embrace new technology such voice recognition.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You empower people by embracing their differences.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Either that or a failure to embrace the new.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There is emotional movement in your chart that embraces change and partners will sense it to let down barriers.
The Sun (2016)
Fear and Love also embraces consumer anxieties.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
While he has broadly embraced change, one area remains off limits.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We invest here because of the the country's readiness to embrace new ideas from people across the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He argues that in art and culture the British embrace radical ideas and it's time we did in gardening.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She has been stepping out with a smile and embracing single life while maintaining her dignity.
The Sun (2008)
Europeans loved it and embraced its message.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The only way people will embrace this competition is if they get to see it.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We are keen to see the industry embrace these ideas and deliver positive change for consumers.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We must embrace our ageing population and the wealth of skills and experience older workers bring.
The Sun (2013)
It surely cannot be long before one party or another embraces such a stance.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We need to accept that new reality and embrace those people.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We have to embrace it and hold our nerve.
The Sun (2007)
We come over here because we want to embrace the opportunity of handling these conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Young performers are embracing the challenge of his music with alacrity.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They lost the capacity to embrace change.
Redwood, John The Global Marketplace (1993)
Public services must embrace the same pace of change.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Rather most are simply embracing the idea of embracing the city.
Christianity Today (2000)
JPs are willing to embrace new technology to improve the way that they work and deliver justice.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The result is a sector ready to take a positive view of risk and to embrace opportunity.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She embraced her new life and this picture shows how well she has adjusted a year after her arrival.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Accept this and embrace the changes.
The Sun (2012)
At a quieter moment, couples embrace in different gender combinations.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Two soft arms wrap around you to remind you of a loved one's embrace.
The Sun (2007)
This is rather a celebration of the dawn of a new age that Turner embraced.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But that will not ease the heartache of the couple seen tearfully embracing after the firm's collapse.
The Sun (2008)
This transition was loathed and resisted long before it was grudgingly accepted and finally embraced by Hollywood interests.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Word lists with
embrace
Criminal law terms
In other languages
embrace
British English: embrace VERB
If you embrace someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly. You can also say that two people embrace.
She came forward and embraced her sister.
American English: embrace
Brazilian Portuguese: abraçar(-se)
Chinese: 拥抱
European Spanish: abrazar
French: étreindre
German: umarmen
Italian: abbracciare
Japanese: 抱きしめる
Korean: 포옹하다
European Portuguese: abraçar(-se)
Latin American Spanish: abrazar
All related terms of 'embrace'
re-embrace
to embrace again
embrace democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections .
embrace diversity
The diversity of something is the fact that it contains many very different elements.
embrace technology
Technology refers to methods , systems, and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes.
embrace a culture
The culture of a particular organization or group consists of the habits of the people in it and the way they generally behave .
embrace an idea
An idea is a plan , suggestion , or possible course of action.
embrace the future
The future is the period of time that will come after the present, or the things that will happen then.
embrace a challenge
A challenge is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination .
Chinese translation of 'embrace'
embrace
(ɪmˈbreɪs)
vt
(= hug) 拥(擁)抱 (yōngbào)
(fig, = welcome)[new idea, system etc]欣然接受 (xīnrán jiēshòu)
(= include)[group of people, things]包括 (bāokuò)
vi
(= hug) 拥(擁)抱 (yōngbào)
n(c)
(= hug) 拥(擁)抱 (yōngbào) (个(個), gè)
1 (verb)
Definition
to clasp (someone) with one's arms as an expression of affection or a greeting
Penelope came forward and embraced her sister.
Synonyms
hug
They hugged each other like a couple of lost children.
hold
I held the baby close to me.
cuddle
He cuddled their newborn baby.
seize
squeeze
He scooped up the puppy and squeezed it.
grasp
He grasped both my hands.
clasp
Mary clasped the children to her desperately.
envelop
the thick black cloud of smoke that enveloped the area
encircle
A forty-foot-high concrete wall encircles the jail.
enfold
I enfolded the baby gently in my arms.
canoodle (slang)
take or hold in your arms
2 (verb)
Definition
to accept eagerly
He embraces the new information age.
Synonyms
accept
He was accepted into the family like a brother.
support
receive
I received your letter.
welcome
Several people came out to welcome me.
adopt
Pupils should be helped to adopt a positive approach.
grab
take up
seize
make use of
espouse
She ran away to Mexico and espoused the revolutionary cause.
take on board
welcome with open arms
avail yourself of
receive enthusiastically
3 (verb)
Definition
to include or be made up of
a theory that would embrace the whole field of human endeavour
Synonyms
include
The trip was extended to include a few other events.
involve
The cover-up involved people at the very highest level.
cover
The law covers four categories of experiments.
deal with
contain
The committee contains 11 Democrats and nine Republicans.
take in
incorporate
The new cars will incorporate a number of major improvements.
comprise
The exhibition comprises 50 oils and watercolours.
enclose
provide for
take into account
embody
The proposal has been embodied in a draft resolution.
encompass
His repertoire encompassed everything from Bach to Scott Joplin.
comprehend
subsume
(noun)
Definition
an act of embracing
We were locked in a loving embrace.
Synonyms
hug
I leapt out of the seat, and gave him a hug.
hold
He released his hold on the camera.
cuddle
squeeze
She gave her teddy bear a squeeze.
clinch (slang)
They were caught in a clinch when her parents returned home.
clasp
He gripped my hand in a strong clasp.
canoodle (slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adopt
Pupils should be helped to adopt a positive approach.