embrace

UK: /ɪmˈbreɪs/ US: /ɛmˈbreɪs/ ,(em brās′)

Inflections of 'embrace' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

embraces

v 3rd person singular

embracing

v pres p

embraced

v past

embraced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•brace¹ /ɛmˈbreɪs/   v., -braced, -brac•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to clasp in the arms;
   hug: [~ + object]
   He embraced her and told her how glad he was to see her again.
   [no object]
   They embraced and kissed.
2. to accept or adopt willingly:
   [~ + object] I don't know whether they'll embrace your idea.
3. to include or contain:
   [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object] The report embraced all aspects of the housing situation.

n. [countable]

4. an encircling hug with the arms:
   She gave me a warm embrace.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•brace¹  (em brās′), v., -braced, -brac•ing, n. 
v.t. 

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.
3. to avail oneself of:
   to embrace an opportunity.
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.
7. to include or contain:
   An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.

v.i. 

8. to join in an embrace.

n. 

9. an act or instance of embracing.

• Anglo-French, Old French embracier, equivalent. to em- em-¹ + bracier to embrace, derivative of brace the two arms; see brace
• Middle English 1300–50

em•brace′a•ble, adj. 
em•brace′ment, n. 
em•brac′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. adopt, espouse, welcome.
• 3. seize.
• 7. comprise, cover, embody. See include. 

Antonyms

• 7. exclude.

em•brace²  (em brās′), v.t., -braced, -brac•ing. [Law.]

1. Law to attempt to influence (a judge or jury) through corrupt means.

• Middle French embraser; see em-¹, braise)
• late Middle English: to influence, prejudice, bribe (a jury), perh. the same word as embrace¹, influenced by embrasen to set on fire (1400–1450

em•brac′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

embrace / 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
5. to encircle or enclose

noun

1. the act of embracing
2. (often plural) sexual intercourse

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French embracier, from em- + brace a pair of arms, from Latin bracchia arms

emˈbraceable adjective

emˈbracement noun

emˈbracer noun