embrace
ehm-BREHS
Embrace (verb) means to hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection; to hug. Example: “After the match, the captain embraced each of his teammates in turn.”
verb
1
To hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection; to hug.
"After the match, the captain embraced each of his teammates in turn."
"They embraced tightly at the airport after months apart."
"She embraced her old friend the moment she saw her."
2
To accept an idea, opportunity, or change willingly and enthusiastically.
"Many villagers have embraced the new recycling scheme and now sort their rubbish carefully."
"The company decided to embrace remote work rather than resist it."
"He embraced the challenge instead of shying away from it."
noun
1
An act of holding someone closely in one's arms; a hug.
"The child ran into her grandmother's embrace as soon as the door opened."
"He pulled her into a long embrace and whispered that everything would be fine."
"They shared a warm embrace before saying goodbye."
How to use embrace
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hug someone tightly, or to accept an idea or change fully and willingly.
Common pairings
embrace change
a warm embrace
embrace an idea
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Word forms
- Plural
- embraces
- Third person singular
- embraces
- Past tense
- embraced
Fill the gap
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After the match, the captain _____ each of his teammates in turn.
Etymology
From Old French embracer, "to clasp in the arms," ultimately from Latin bracchium, "arm" — the same root as brace and bracelet.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for embrace
See all rhymes for embrace →Frequently asked questions
What does “embrace” mean?
The word “embrace” means to hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection; to hug. In plain terms, to hug someone tightly, or to accept an idea or change fully and willingly.
How do you pronounce “embrace”?
“Embrace” is pronounced ehm-BREHS (/ɛmˈbɹes/ in IPA).
How do you use “embrace” in a sentence?
Here is “embrace” used in a sentence: “They embraced tightly at the airport after months apart.”
What is another word for “embrace”?
Words with a similar meaning to “embrace” include accoll, amplect, beclip, clip, coll and strain.
What part of speech is “embrace”?
Depending on how it is used, “embrace” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “embrace” come from?
The word “embrace” comes from Latin. From Old French embracer, "to clasp in the arms," ultimately from Latin bracchium, "arm" — the same root as brace and bracelet.
Is “embrace” a common word?
“Embrace” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “embrace” have?
“Embrace” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection; to hug.
What is the difference between "embrace" and "hug"?
Both mean to hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection. "Embrace" is slightly more formal or literary and can also mean to accept an idea, while "hug" is the everyday word and stays physical.
How is "embrace" used to talk about ideas or change?
Beyond the physical sense, "embrace" means to accept an idea, opportunity, or change willingly and enthusiastically. For example, "they embraced new technology" means they took it up eagerly rather than resisting it.
What is the difference between "embrace" and "accept"?
"Accept" means simply to agree to or receive something, which can be reluctant or neutral. "Embrace" is stronger and warmer, implying you welcome the idea or change willingly and enthusiastically.
Is "embrace" formal or informal?
"Embrace" is somewhat formal and expressive, common in writing and speeches, as in "embrace the challenge." In casual conversation people usually say "hug" for the physical sense and "go along with" or "welcome" for the figurative one.
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