embrace

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.

“Embrace” is pronounced ehm-BREHS (/ɛmˈbɹes/ in IPA).

Here is “embrace” used in a sentence: “They embraced tightly at the airport after months apart.”

Words with a similar meaning to “embrace” include accoll, amplect, beclip, clip, coll and strain.

Depending on how it is used, “embrace” can be a verb and a noun.

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.

“Embrace” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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.