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embrace

embrace

61 3.3
A close hug that shows affection and comfort
  • noun
  • /ɪmˈbreɪs/
translation icon : abrazo
  • After a long time apart, they finally shared a heartfelt embrace at the airport.
  • embrace and bonding

I mean, it was a great, great embrace, great hug, great send off.

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Examples

Synonyms

snuggle
vsembrace
  • Informal
12 2.1

A warm, close hug with a person or pet to show affection

can be brief or figurative as well as physically prolonged and warm
bear hug
vsembrace
9 3.0

A very strong, tight hold with your arms around someone

covers gentler or symbolic forms of holding as well as strong grips
cuddling
vsembrace
9 1.0

Holding someone close in your arms to feel warm and safe

includes that gentle closeness but also stronger or noncomforting types of holding
hugging
vsembrace
2 1.0

An act of holding someone close to show love or friendship

focuses more broadly on close holding including nonplayful or figurative cases
embracement
vsembrace
1 4.7

Holding someone in your arms to show affection

is the general act of holding someone or enclosing something closely
abrazo
vsembrace
1 8.2

A warm hug people give to show affection

is the general term for that act across literal and figurative uses
embracing
vsembrace
2.5

A close hug made by putting your arms around someone to show affection

covers both literal close holding and wider senses of surrounding or enclosing
open-armed hug
vsembrace
2.5

A warm welcome you give by opening your arms to hold someone

is any close holding, not only wide open welcoming gestures

Antonyms

89 2.6

The process of moving apart or staying apart

Compounds

A warm hug shared by two people who are married

A feeling of comfort and safety when someone hugs you

How Tight

bear hug
9 3.0
squeeze
12 1.5
hug
433 1.0
embrace
61 3.3
to hold
1.0

Surface Forms

embrace singular
embraces plural

Etymology

Embrace comes from em- 'in' and brace 'arm', the same root you see in bracelet. So an embrace is literally taking someone 'in your arms' — a hug.