embrace
1 of 2verb
em·brace im-ˈbrās 
embraced; embracing
transitive verb
1
a
: to clasp in the arms : hug
b
: cherish, love
2
: encircle, enclose
3
a
: to take up especially readily or gladly
embrace a cause
b
: to avail oneself of : welcome
embraced the opportunity to study further
4
a
: to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole
charity embraces all acts that contribute to human welfare
b
: to be equal or equivalent to
his assets embraced $10
intransitive verb
: to participate in an embrace
embraceable
im-ˈbrā-sə-bəl
adjective embracement
im-ˈbrās-mənt
noun embracer noun
embracingly
im-ˈbrā-siŋ-lē
adverb embrace
2 of 2noun
1
: a close encircling with the arms and pressure to the chest especially as a sign of affection : hug
2
: grip, encirclement
in the embrace of terror
3
: acceptance
her embrace of new ideas
Synonyms
Verb
- bear-hug
- clasp
- crush
- enclasp
- enfold
- grasp
- hug
- strain
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb They embraced one last time before going their separate ways. a politician who has been embraced by conservatives Charity embraces all acts of generous giving. It's a subject that embraces many areas of learning. Noun He held her in a warm embrace.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 One potential way of side-stepping any possible negative blue light effects is for the manufacturers of technology to embrace other variations of light. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2022 The big question is whether the film, which among other things includes a sequence that heavily involves butt plugs, is a bit too out there and chaotic for the Academy to embrace. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 23 Aug. 2022 It’s there for everyone to embrace-that kind of unconditional love for all of humankind. Larry Stansbury, Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2022 The former child star decided to embrace another one of her natural talents — math. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Most users will need to embrace a new computing metaphor to harness the power of the metaverse Despite these advances, immersive interfaces are largely unfamiliar and, in some cases, difficult to use compared to an iPhone, for example. Adario Strange, Quartz, 15 Aug. 2022 The tower would be RMR’s first development project in Boston and would come at a time of great uncertainty about the future of the downtown office market as companies embrace remote work. Catherine Carlock, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2022 But this moment is also a rare opportunity for businesses and employees to embrace long-overdue changes. Daphne Kis, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Laura Beers, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Rumors continue to swirl about who will be the next player to escape the shackles of his multi-million-dollar PGA Tour life for the warm embrace of Mohammed bin Salman. Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 In January, West Virginia’s Board of Treasury Investment dropped BlackRock funds from its portfolio for their embrace of ESG investing. George Strobel, Forbes, 4 Aug. 2022 Pelphrey shouted when her name was called before pulling in Cuoco for a tearful embrace. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 July 2022 The music rose to a crescendo as the artists, moving in perfect synchronicity and absolute trust, met for a final embrace. oregonlive, 30 June 2022 Having turned to experimental therapies to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, addiction and depression, many former military members have become effusive advocates for a wider embrace of psychedelics. New York Times, 21 May 2022 But local clergymen at the Diocese of Kottar in Tamil Nadu, the resting place of Devasahayam, believe he was persecuted for his embrace of marginalized groups. Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 16 May 2022 Wood had long been celebrated as a star investor for her prescient embrace of disruptive tech stocks during the monster rally of the pandemic and received glowing coverage in the media for her über-bullish bet on companies like Tesla. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 May 2022 See More
Verb
Saban also brought up Henry To’o To’o and DJ Dale as leaders this season, but said players need to embrace leaders. Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 One potential way of side-stepping any possible negative blue light effects is for the manufacturers of technology to embrace other variations of light. Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2022 The big question is whether the film, which among other things includes a sequence that heavily involves butt plugs, is a bit too out there and chaotic for the Academy to embrace. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 23 Aug. 2022 It’s there for everyone to embrace-that kind of unconditional love for all of humankind. Larry Stansbury, Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2022 The former child star decided to embrace another one of her natural talents — math. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Most users will need to embrace a new computing metaphor to harness the power of the metaverse Despite these advances, immersive interfaces are largely unfamiliar and, in some cases, difficult to use compared to an iPhone, for example. Adario Strange, Quartz, 15 Aug. 2022 The tower would be RMR’s first development project in Boston and would come at a time of great uncertainty about the future of the downtown office market as companies embrace remote work. Catherine Carlock, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2022 But this moment is also a rare opportunity for businesses and employees to embrace long-overdue changes. Daphne Kis, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Noun
Truss, however, is not known for her embrace of gender solidarity. Laura Beers, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Rumors continue to swirl about who will be the next player to escape the shackles of his multi-million-dollar PGA Tour life for the warm embrace of Mohammed bin Salman. Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 In January, West Virginia’s Board of Treasury Investment dropped BlackRock funds from its portfolio for their embrace of ESG investing. George Strobel, Forbes, 4 Aug. 2022 Pelphrey shouted when her name was called before pulling in Cuoco for a tearful embrace. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 July 2022 The music rose to a crescendo as the artists, moving in perfect synchronicity and absolute trust, met for a final embrace. oregonlive, 30 June 2022 Having turned to experimental therapies to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, addiction and depression, many former military members have become effusive advocates for a wider embrace of psychedelics. New York Times, 21 May 2022 But local clergymen at the Diocese of Kottar in Tamil Nadu, the resting place of Devasahayam, believe he was persecuted for his embrace of marginalized groups. Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 16 May 2022 Wood had long been celebrated as a star investor for her prescient embrace of disruptive tech stocks during the monster rally of the pandemic and received glowing coverage in the media for her über-bullish bet on companies like Tesla. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French embracer, from en- + brace pair of arms — more at brace entry 2
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
embrace 1 of 2
verb
em·brace im-ˈbrās
embraced; embracing
1
: to hold in the arms : hug The old friends embraced each other.
2
: to surround on all sides
Low hills embraced the valley.
3
: to accept readily or gladly
She is always ready to embrace an opportunity.
4
: include
Mathematics embraces arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
embrace
2 of 2noun
: an act of holding in the arms : hug
embrace 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly upon being finally reunited, the overjoyed father embraced his son Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hug
- clasp
- cling
- cradle
- grasp
- enfold
- grab
- wrap
- hold
- bear-hug
- crush
- enclasp
- strain
- envelop
- pat
- bosom
- encircle
- grip
- fold
- entwine
- snuggle
- clamp
- lock
- cuddle
- nuzzle
- fondle
- enwind
- nestle
- pet
- embosom
- stroke
- twine
2
as in to wrap
to surround or cover closely the stone walls that embrace the monastery serve to symbolize its function as a retreat from an unquiet world Synonyms & Similar Words
- wrap
- envelop
- shroud
- enclose
- encompass
- enfold
- encase
- bosom
- involve
- cocoon
- enshroud
- mantle
- encircle
- veil
- embed
- drape
- enwrap
- muffle
- invest
- cloak
- embower
- bower
- lap
- swathe
- embosom
- circumfuse
- circle
- enswathe
- disguise
- inclose
- curtain
- blanket
- swaddle
- mask
- imbed
- camouflage
- overlay
- overspread
- enwind
- enlace
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expose
- bare
- strip
- denude
3
as in to adopt
to take for one's own use (something originated by another) rap music came to be embraced by people who were far removed from the places where it originated Synonyms & Similar Words
- adopt
- borrow
- assimilate
- cultivate
- espouse
- utilize
- take up
- incorporate
- imitate
- follow
- use
- absorb
- take on
- cherish
- usurp
- pick up on
- copy
- honor
- appropriate
- nurture
- domesticate
- naturalize
- foster
- heed
- treasure
- pretend
- raise
- arrogate
- simulate
- affect
- take over
- assume
- quote
- prize
- put on
- rear
- bring up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abandon
- relinquish
- forsake
- surrender
- reject
- give up
- renounce
- abjure
- spurn
- repudiate
- discard
- disown
- jettison
- abnegate
- throw away
- throw out
- junk
4
as in to welcome
to receive or accept gladly or readily the exchange student was gratified to be so quickly embraced by people of the small rural community Synonyms & Similar Words
- welcome
- enjoy
- greet
- adopt
- like
- hail
- prefer
- choose
- espouse
- take up
- drink (in)
- eat (up)
- lap (up)
- select
- take
- elect
- pick
- cull
- name
- handpick
- cherry-pick
- decide (on)
- opt (for)
- single (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reject
- refuse
- spurn
- decline
- turn down
- balk (at)
- throw over
- pass up
- object (to)
- demur (to)
5
as in to encompass
to have as part of a whole a course in social studies can embrace everything from sociology to civics and economics Synonyms & Similar Words
- encompass
- include
- involve
- contain
- carry
- entail
- comprehend
- subsume
- number
- incorporate
- take in
- comprise
- receive
- possess
- own
- have
- embody
- integrate
- admit
- assimilate
- hold
- constitute
- form
- bracket
- compose
- consist (of)
- make
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exclude
- prevent
- leave (out)
- omit
- preclude
- refuse
- reject
- deny
- prohibit
- eliminate
- miss out
- ban
- bar
- lose
- debar
- except
- rule out
- mislay
- misplace
6
as in to surround
to form a circle around a sleepy village embraced by low hills Synonyms & Similar Words
- surround
- encircle
- encompass
- circle
- enclose
- ring
- gird
- environ
- wreathe
- circumscribe
- girdle
- inclose
- entrench
- compass
- wall
- besiege
- beset
- close in
- invest
- swarm
- hem (in)
- fence (in)
- cordon (off)
- intrench
embrace
2 of 2noun
1
as in acceptance
Synonyms & Similar Words
- acceptance
- embracement
- acquiescence
- assent
- consent
- approval
- concession
- approbation
- accession
- adhesion
- assentation
- understanding
- consensus
- agreement
- unison
- complicity
- favor
- unanimity
- collaboration
- oneness
- solidarity
- collusion
- concurrence
- union
- conformity
- concord
- alliance
- conspiracy
- concurrency
- empathy
- harmony
- compliance
- concert
- sympathy
- accord
- concordance
- consonance
- rapport
- concertedness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conflict
- disagreement
- opposition
- resistance
- discord
- dissent
- dissension
- disapproval
- dissensus
- dissention
- disapprobation
- disfavor
2
as in hug
Synonyms & Similar Words
- hug
- clinch
- grab
- foothold
- leverage
- grasp
- purchase
- footing
- toehold
- anchorage
- clasp
- seizure
- hold
- grapple
- grip
- clench
- handhold
- handgrip
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- release
- relinquishment
Synonym Chooser
The words adopt and espouse are common synonyms of embrace. While all three words mean "to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own," embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance.
embraced the customs of their new homeland
The meanings of adopt and embrace largely overlap; however, adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature.
forced to adopt new policies
The synonyms espouse and embrace are sometimes interchangeable, but espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes.
espoused the cause of women's rights
- lady's-finger
- lady's-fingers
- lady's-glove
- lady's-gloves
- lady's-grass
- lady's-grasses
- lady's-laces
- lady's-lint
- lady's-lints
- lady's-nightcap
- lady's-nightcaps
- lady's-paintbrush
- lady's-paintbrushes
- lady's-pocket
- lady's-pockets
- lady's-purse
- lady's-purses
- lady's-smock
- lady's-sorrel
- lady's-sorrels
- lady's-thimble
- lady's-thimbles
- lady's-tobacco
- lady-help
- lady-in-waiting