Embrace — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /im-ˈbrās/ em·brace

Meaning & Definition of Embrace

Embrace (verb)

  1. to clasp in the arms, hug
  2. cherish, love
  3. encircle, enclose

Embrace (noun)

  1. a close encircling with the arms and pressure to the chest especially as a sign of affection, hug
  2. grip, encirclement
  3. acceptance

Embrace (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to put one's arms around and press tightly

    "upon being finally reunited, the overjoyed father embraced his son"

    similar: bear-hug, clasp, crush, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug, strain
    related: clamp, cling, cradle, grab, grip, hold, bosom, embosom, encircle, entwine, envelop, enwind, fold, lock, twine, wrap, cuddle, fondle, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, snuggle, stroke

  2. to surround or cover closely

    "the stone walls that embrace the monastery serve to symbolize its function as a retreat from an unquiet world"

    similar: bosom, bower, circumfuse, cocoon, embosom, embower, enclose, encompass, enfold, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, invest, involve, lap, mantle, muffle, shroud, swathe, veil, wrap
    related: curtain, drape, embed, encase, swaddle, blanket, overlay, overspread, camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask, circle, encircle, enlace, enwind
    near: bare, denude, expose, strip

  3. to take for one's own use (something originated by another)

    "rap music came to be embraced by people who were far removed from the places where it originated"

    similar: adopt, borrow, espouse, take on, take up, pick up on
    related: domesticate, naturalize, appropriate, arrogate, take over, usurp, absorb, assimilate, incorporate, quote, cherish, prize, treasure, cultivate, follow, heed, honor, use, utilize, bring up, foster, nurture, raise, rear, affect, assume, copy, imitate, pretend, put on, simulate
    near: abandon, forsake, give up, relinquish, surrender, abjure, abnegate, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn, discard, jettison, junk, throw away, throw out

  4. to receive or accept gladly or readily

    "the exchange student was gratified to be so quickly embraced by people of the small rural community"

    similar: drink (in), eat (up), lap (up), welcome
    related: adopt, espouse, take up, greet, hail, enjoy, like, prefer, cherry-pick, choose, cull, decide (on), elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, select, single (out), take
    near: balk (at), decline, pass up, refuse, reject, spurn, throw over, turn down, demur (to), object (to)

  5. to have as part of a whole

    "a course in social studies can embrace everything from sociology to civics and economics"

    similar: carry, comprehend, contain, encompass, entail, include, involve, number, subsume, take in
    related: comprise, consist (of), bracket, have, hold, own, possess, admit, receive, compose, constitute, form, make, assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrate
    opposite: exclude, leave (out), miss out (British), omit
    near: ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit, deny, refuse, reject, eliminate, except, rule out, lose, mislay, misplace

  6. to form a circle around

    "a sleepy village embraced by low hills"

    similar: circle, compass, encircle, enclose, encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, surround, wreathe
    related: circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall, beset, besiege, entrench, invest, swarm

Embrace (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in acceptance, concession

    similar: acceptance, acquiescence, concession, embracement, accession, adhesion, assent, assentation, consent, approbation, approval, favor, accord, agreement, concurrence, concurrency, consensus, unanimity, unison, alliance, collaboration, collusion, complicity, conspiracy, compliance, concert, concertedness, concord, concordance, conformity, consonance, harmony, oneness, solidarity, understanding, union, empathy, rapport, sympathy
    opposite: conflict, disagreement, dissensus, discord, dissension, dissent, opposition, resistance, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor

  2. as in hug, clinch

    similar: clinch, hug, foothold, footing, toehold, grab, seizure, anchorage, leverage, purchase, clasp, clench, grapple, grasp, grip, handgrip, handhold, hold
    opposite: release, relinquishment

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Embrace

The most common words with a similar meaning to Embrace:

bear-hug, clasp, crush, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug, strain, bosom, bower, circumfuse, cocoon, embosom, embower, enclose, encompass, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, invest, involve, lap, mantle, muffle, shroud, swathe, veil, wrap, adopt, borrow, espouse, take on, take up, drink (in), eat (up), lap (up), welcome, carry, comprehend

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Embrace

Words with the opposite meaning of Embrace:

exclude, leave (out), miss out, omit, conflict, disagreement, dissensus, discord, dissension, dissent, opposition, resistance, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor, release, relinquishment

Related Words for Embrace

clamp, cling, cradle, entwine, enwind, fold, lock, twine, cuddle, fondle, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, snuggle, stroke, curtain, drape, embed, encase, swaddle, blanket, overlay, overspread, camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask, enlace, domesticate

Near Antonyms of Embrace

bare, denude, expose, strip, abandon, forsake, give up, relinquish, surrender, abjure, abnegate, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn, discard, jettison, junk, throw away, throw out, balk (at), decline, pass up, refuse, throw over, turn down, demur (to), object (to), ban

Word Forms of Embrace

Inflections: embraced, embracing

Derived words: embraceable (adjective), embracement (noun), embracer (noun), embracingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Embrace

Middle English, from Anglo-French embracer, from en- + brace pair of arms brace:2

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Embrace

Frequently Asked Questions about Embrace

What does "Embrace" mean?

"Embrace" means to clasp in the arms, hug. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to clasp in the arms, hug. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Embrace"?

Other words for "Embrace" include bear-hug, clasp, crush, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug and strain. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Embrace" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Embrace"?

There are 211 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Embrace". Common alternatives include bear-hug, clasp, crush, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug, strain, bosom and bower.

What is the opposite of "Embrace"?

Antonyms of "Embrace" include exclude, leave (out), miss out, omit, conflict, disagreement, dissensus and discord. Near antonyms include bare, denude, expose and strip.

How do you use "Embrace" in a sentence?

Examples of "Embrace" in a sentence: "upon being finally reunited, the overjoyed father embraced his son"; "the stone walls that embrace the monastery serve to symbolize its function as a retreat from an unquiet world"; "rap music came to be embraced by people who were far removed from the places where it originated".

Is "Embrace" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Embrace" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Embrace" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Embrace" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Embrace"?

"Embrace" is pronounced /im-ˈbrās/ and divided into syllables as em·brace.