Embrace

To hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection; to welcome, accept, or adopt something (such as an idea, change, or opportunity) with enthusiasm.

verb

Embrace

To hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection; to welcome, accept, or adopt something (such as an idea, change, or opportunity) with enthusiasm.

verb

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Imagine This

Picture a friend returning from a long trip. You swing your arms wide and pull them into a warm, tight hug, then smile as you simultaneously invite a new idea or opportunity to your life, fully embracing it.

🔊

Sounds Like

em-BRAYS

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Looks Like

visually resembles 'brace' (an arm or support), with the 'em-' prefix suggesting an action done to someone or something you hold or surround

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Remember This

Embrace has both a physical sense (hug) and a figurative sense (to welcome or adopt). The noun form refers to the act of hugging; the verb form covers both hugging and accepting something.

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Other Forms

embracenoun

embracedverb

embracingverb

embracesverb

embracernoun

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Connect With

hug, clasp, welcome, adopt, espouse, include, surround

📌

Note

Use embrace for both people and ideas. When hugging someone, you 'embrace' them; when adopting a policy or practice, you 'embrace' it. Do not confuse with similar-sounding terms like 'embrace' vs 'embraceable' (the latter means able to be hugged).

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Study Deeper

Examples

She embraced her grandmother in a warm hug.
The company embraced the new technology and updated its systems.

Synonyms

hugwelcomeadoptespouseaccept

Antonyms

rejectrefusedismiss

Etymology

From Old French embracier, from en- (in) + brace (arm); ultimately from Latin bracchium 'forearm' or 'arm'. The sense evolved from 'to clasp with the arms' to both physical hugging and figurative acceptance.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: EM-BRACE = imagine your arms forming a brace around someone you care about; the word literally means to 'put arms around' or surround with acceptance.