Brace vs. Embrace — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
"Brace" refers to supporting or strengthening something, while "Embrace" means to hold or accept warmly; both can also imply a form of preparation.
Difference Between Brace and Embrace
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
At first glance, "Brace" and "Embrace" may seem related, mainly because of their phonetic similarities. However, their meanings and uses are distinct. "Brace" often denotes a sense of strengthening, support, or preparation against something. For instance, one might brace themselves against a strong wind or use a brace to support an injured limb. On the contrary, "Embrace" carries a warmer, accepting connotation, often used to describe a tight hug or the act of welcoming something with open arms.
"Brace" can also be associated with resistance or endurance. When someone says they're "bracing for impact," they're preparing themselves for a forthcoming event or challenge. In contrast, "Embrace" has nuances of acceptance and incorporation. If one says they're "embracing a new culture," they're not just acknowledging it but actively integrating it into their life.
In physical terms, a "brace" is often an object that provides support or keeps things in place, like dental braces aligning teeth. "Embrace," when referring to a physical action, alludes to the act of wrapping one's arms around someone or something in a display of affection or acceptance.
Although both words share the common element of 'brace,' their prefixes make all the difference. The 'em-' in "Embrace" gives it a sense of "in" or "enveloping," highlighting its encompassing nature. Meanwhile, "Brace," standing alone, underscores its sturdiness and reinforcing qualities.
Comparison Chart
Definition
To support, strengthen, or prepare for
To hold, accept warmly, or encompass
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Connotation
Resistance, endurance
Acceptance, incorporation
Physical Reference
Objects that offer support (e.g., dental braces)
Act of holding or wrapping arms around something
Prefix Influence
Stands alone, emphasizing sturdiness
'Em-' suggests encompassing or enveloping
Example Use
Bracing oneself against a storm
Embracing a new opportunity
Compare with Definitions
Brace
A device that supports or strengthens.
She wore a knee Brace after the injury.
Embrace
To hold closely in one's arms.
They shared a warm Embrace after years of separation.
Brace
To secure or fasten tightly.
Brace the door to prevent it from opening.
Embrace
To accept or support willingly and enthusiastically.
She decided to Embrace the new changes at work.
Brace
A device fitted to something, in particular a weak or injured part of the body, to give support
A neck brace
Embrace
To encompass or include.
The book Embraces a wide range of topics.
Brace
A pair of straps that pass over the shoulders and fasten to the top of trousers at the front and back to hold them up.
Embrace
To take up a new idea or trend.
Many companies are beginning to Embrace remote work.
Brace
A pair of something, typically of birds or mammals killed in hunting
Thirty brace of grouse
Embrace
To clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection.
Brace
Either of the two marks { and }, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected.
Embrace
To surround or enclose
"the bold chalk ridge that embraces the prominences of Hambledon Hill" (Thomas Hardy).
Brace
Make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support
The posts were braced by lengths of timber
Embrace
To include or contain as part of something broader.
Brace
A device that holds or fastens two or more parts together or in place; a clamp.
Embrace
To adopt or support willingly or eagerly
Embrace a social cause.
Brace
A device, such as a supporting beam in a building or a connecting wire or rope, that steadies or holds something else erect.
Embrace
To avail oneself of
"I only regret, in my chilled age, certain occasions and possibilities I didn't embrace" (Henry James).
Brace
Braces Chiefly British Suspenders.
Embrace
To join in an embrace.
Brace
An orthopedic appliance used to support, align, or hold a bodily part in the correct position.
Embrace
An act of holding close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection; a hug.
Brace
Often braces A dental appliance constructed of bands and wires that is fixed to the teeth to correct irregular alignment.
Embrace
An enclosure or encirclement
Caught in the jungle's embrace.
Brace
An extremely stiff, erect posture.
Embrace
Eager acceptance
His embrace of socialism.
Brace
A cause or source of renewed physical or spiritual vigor.
Embrace
(transitive) To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.
Brace
A protective pad strapped to the bow arm of an archer.
Embrace
To seize (something) eagerly or with alacrity; to accept or take up with cordiality; to welcome.
I wholeheartedly embrace the new legislation.
Brace
(Nautical)A rope by which a yard is swung and secured on a square-rigged ship.
Embrace
To submit to; to undergo.
Brace
A cranklike handle with an adjustable aperture at one end for securing and turning a bit.
Embrace
To encircle; to enclose, to encompass.
Brace
(Music)A leather loop that slides to change the tension on the cord of a drum.
Embrace
To enfold, to include (ideas, principles, etc.); to encompass.
Natural philosophy embraces many sciences.
Brace
A vertical line, usually accompanied by the symbol {, connecting two or more staffs.
Embrace
To fasten on, as armour.
Brace
A set of staffs connected in this way.
Embrace
To accept (someone) as a friend; to accept (someone's) help gladly.
Brace
A symbol, { or }, enclosing two or more lines of text or listed items to show that they are considered as a unit.
Embrace
To attempt to influence (a court, jury, etc.) corruptly; to practise embracery.
Brace
(Mathematics)Either of a pair of symbols, { }, used to indicate aggregation or to clarify the grouping of quantities when parentheses and square brackets have already been used. Also called bracket.
Embrace
An act of putting arms around someone and bringing the person close to the chest; a hug.
Brace
Pl. brace A pair of like things
Three brace of partridges.
Embrace
(figuratively) An enclosure partially or fully surrounding someone or something.
Brace
To furnish with a brace.
Embrace
(figuratively) Full acceptance (of something).
Brace
To support or hold steady with or as if with a brace; reinforce.
Embrace
(figuratively) An act of enfolding or including.
Brace
To prepare or position so as to be ready for impact or danger
Union members braced themselves for a confrontation with management.
Embrace
To fasten on, as armor.
Brace
To confront with questions or requests.
Embrace
To clasp in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.
I will embrace him with a soldier's arm,That he shall shrink under my courtesy.
Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them.
Brace
To increase the tension of.
Embrace
To cling to; to cherish; to love.
Brace
To invigorate; stimulate
"The freshness of the September morning inspired and braced him" (Thomas Hardy).
Embrace
To seize eagerly, or with alacrity; to accept with cordiality; to welcome.
What is there that he may not embrace for truth?
Brace
(Nautical)To turn (the yards of a ship) by the braces.
Embrace
To encircle; to encompass; to inclose.
Low at his feet a spacious plain is placed,Between the mountain and the stream embraced.
Brace
To get ready; make preparations.
Embrace
To include as parts of a whole; to comprehend; to take in; as, natural philosophy embraces many sciences.
Not that my song, in such a scanty space,So large a subject fully can embrace.
Brace
(obsolete) Armor for the arm; vambrace.
Embrace
To accept; to undergo; to submit to.
Brace
(obsolete) A measurement of length, originally representing a person's outstretched arms.
Embrace
To attempt to influence corruptly, as a jury or court.
Brace
A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
Embrace
To join in an embrace.
Brace
That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
Embrace
Intimate or close encircling with the arms; pressure to the bosom; clasp; hug.
We stood tranced in long embraces,Mixed with kisses.
Brace
A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension.
Embrace
The act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)
Brace
A thong used to regulate the tension of a drum.
Embrace
The state of taking in or encircling;
An island in the embrace of the sea
Brace
The state of being braced or tight; tension.
Embrace
A close affectionate and protective acceptance;
His willing embrace of new ideas
In the bosom of the family
Brace
Harness; warlike preparation.
Embrace
Include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory;
This group encompasses a wide range of people from different backgrounds
This should cover everyone in the group
Brace
(typography) A curved, pointed line, also known as "curly bracket": { or } connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be considered together, such as in {role, roll}; in music, used to connect staves.
Embrace
Hug, usually with fondness;
Hug me, please
They embraced
Brace
A pair, a couple; originally used of dogs, and later of animals generally (e.g., a brace of conies) and then other things, but rarely human persons. (The plural in this sense is unchanged.) In British use (as plural), this is a particularly common reference to game birds.
Embrace
Take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own;
She embraced Catholocism
They adopted the Jewish faith
Brace
A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.
Embrace
A close hug or act of holding someone.
The mother's Embrace comforted the crying child.
Brace
(nautical) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
Brace
The mouth of a shaft.
Brace
Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
Brace
(plural in North America, singular or plural in the UK) A system of wires, brackets, and elastic bands used to correct crooked teeth or to reduce overbite.
Brace
(association football) Two goals scored by one player in a game.
Brace
To prepare for something bad, such as an impact or blow.
All hands, brace for impact!
Brace yourself!
The boy has no idea about everything that's been going on. You need to brace him for what's about to happen.
Brace
To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly.
He braced himself against the crowd.
Brace
(nautical) To swing round the yards of a square rigged ship, using braces, to present a more efficient sail surface to the direction of the wind.
To brace the yards
Brace
To stop someone for questioning, usually said of police.
Brace
To confront with questions, demands or requests.
Brace
To furnish with braces; to support; to prop.
To brace a beam in a building
Brace
To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen.
To brace the nerves
Brace
To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
Brace
That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.
Brace
A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as a cord on the side of a drum.
The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that.
Brace
The state of being braced or tight; tension.
The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension.
Brace
A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss, which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.
Brace
A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines, which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used to connect staves.
Brace
A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
Brace
A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
Brace
A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to persons, except familiarly or with some contempt.
He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants.
A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church.
But you, my brace of lords.
Brace
Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces.
Brace
Harness; warlike preparation.
For that it stands not in such warlike brace.
Brace
Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
Brace
The mouth of a shaft.
Brace
To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam in a building.
Brace
To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves.
And welcome war to brace her drums.
Brace
To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy, have very little feet.
Some who spurs had first braced on.
Brace
To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as, he braced himself against the crowd.
A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced.
Brace
To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards.
Brace
To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; - with up.
Brace
A support that steadies or strengthens something else;
He wore a brace on his knee
Brace
Two items of the same kind
Brace
A set of two similar things considered as a unit
Brace
Either of two punctuation marks ({ or }) used to enclose textual material
Brace
A rope on a square-rigged ship that is used to swing a yard about and secure it
Brace
Elastic straps that hold trousers up (usually used in the plural)
Brace
An appliance that corrects dental irregularities
Brace
The stock of a tool used for turning a drilling bit
Brace
A structural member used to stiffen a framework
Brace
Prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
Brace
Support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace;
Brace your elbows while working on the potter's wheel
Brace
Support by bracing
Brace
Cause to be alert and energetic;
Coffee and tea stimulate me
This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate
Brace
To prepare oneself for something challenging.
He braced himself for the bad news.
Brace
To stiffen or tense up.
The sudden noise made her Brace in surprise.
Brace
A pair or set of something.
He bought a brace of quails for the dinner.
Common Curiosities
How does the 'em-' in "Embrace" influence its meaning?
The prefix 'em-' gives "Embrace" a sense of encompassing or enveloping.
Are the words "Brace" and "Embrace" related in meaning?
While they sound similar, "Brace" typically refers to support or preparation, whereas "Embrace" means to hold or accept warmly.
What does a "brace of quails" mean?
It refers to a pair of quails.
Can "Brace" refer to a physical object?
Yes, a "brace" can be an object that provides support, like dental braces.
What does it mean to "Embrace a challenge"?
It means to accept the challenge willingly and with enthusiasm.
Is "Brace" only used in a physical context?
No, "brace" can also refer to mentally preparing oneself for something.
Can "Embrace" be used in a non-physical sense?
Yes, "Embrace" can refer to accepting ideas, changes, or cultures.
Is "Embrace" always used in a positive context?
Mostly, but context matters. One can "embrace" something harmful too.
Can "Embrace" refer to an act of love?
Yes, it often refers to a close hug or act of holding someone affectionately.
Does "Embrace" always indicate physical proximity?
No, it can be metaphorical, like "embracing a concept."
If someone is "bracing for impact," what are they doing?
They are preparing themselves for a forthcoming event or challenge.
What's the primary difference between the two words?
"Brace" is about support or preparation, while "Embrace" is about holding or acceptance.
Can "Brace" refer to a set of items?
Yes, like a "brace of pistols" referring to a pair of pistols.
How are the two words most commonly used in everyday language?
"Brace" often refers to support or preparation, while "Embrace" is commonly used to denote holding or accepting something/someone warmly.
Can both words be used as nouns?
Yes, "brace" can mean a supporting device and "embrace" a hug.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
