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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

embrace.

To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.

7 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

verb/ɛmˈbɹes/Multicultural-London-English/ɛmˈbɹeɪs//ɪmˈbɹeɪs/
  1. To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.

    transitive
  2. To seize (something) eagerly or with alacrity; to accept or take up with cordiality; to welcome.

    figuratively · transitive
    I wholeheartedly embrace the new legislation.
    Embrace any opportunities that may come your way.
  3. To submit to; to undergo.

    figuratively · transitive
  4. To encircle; to enclose, to encompass.

    also · figuratively · transitive
  5. To enfold, to include (ideas, principles, etc.); to encompass.

    figuratively · transitive
    Natural philosophy embraces many sciences.
  6. To fasten on, as armour.

    obsolete · rare · transitive
  7. To accept (someone) as a friend; to accept (someone's) help gladly.

    figuratively · obsolete · transitive
  8. To attempt to influence (a court, jury, etc.) corruptly; to practise embracery.

    figuratively · obsolete · transitive
Where this word comes from

The verb is derived from Middle English embracen (“to clasp in one's arms, embrace; to reach out eagerly for, welcome; to enfold, entwine; to ensnare, entangle; to twist, wrap around; to gird, put on; to lace; to be in or put into bonds; to put a shield on the arm; to grasp (a shield or spear); to acquire, take hold of; to receive; to undertake; to affect, influence; to incite; to unlawfully influence a jury; to surround; to conceal, cover; to shelter; to protect; to comfort; to comprehend, understand”) [and other forms], from Old French embracer, embracier (“to kiss”) (modern French embrasser (“to kiss; (dated) to embrace, hug”)), from Late Latin *imbracchiāre, from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’)) + bracchium (“arm”). The English word is analysable as em- + brace. The noun is derived from the verb.

noun/ɛmˈbɹes/Multicultural-London-English/ɛmˈbɹeɪs//ɪmˈbɹeɪs/
  1. An act of putting arms around someone and bringing the person close to the chest; a hug.

  2. An enclosure partially or fully surrounding someone or something.

    figuratively
  3. Full acceptance (of something).

    figuratively
  4. An act of enfolding or including.

    figuratively
Where this word comes from

The verb is derived from Middle English embracen (“to clasp in one's arms, embrace; to reach out eagerly for, welcome; to enfold, entwine; to ensnare, entangle; to twist, wrap around; to gird, put on; to lace; to be in or put into bonds; to put a shield on the arm; to grasp (a shield or spear); to acquire, take hold of; to receive; to undertake; to affect, influence; to incite; to unlawfully influence a jury; to surround; to conceal, cover; to shelter; to protect; to comfort; to comprehend, understand”) [and other forms], from Old French embracer, embracier (“to kiss”) (modern French embrasser (“to kiss; (dated) to embrace, hug”)), from Late Latin *imbracchiāre, from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’)) + bracchium (“arm”). The English word is analysable as em- + brace. The noun is derived from the verb.

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.