embrace

/ɛmˈbɹes/

//ɛmˈbɹes// verb

"embrace" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“embrace” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #5,494. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#5,494
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
10
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.

Corpus desk

Index EN-embrace · embrace · English

embrace · rank #5,494 · 10 variants · 3 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #5,494
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 3 pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH determination

Nearest frequency peer: determination (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “embrace”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “embrace” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

embrace vs emirate
71% similar
embrace vs embraced
88% similar
embrace vs embraces
88% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for embrace
PropertyValue
Headwordembrace
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɛmˈbɹes/
Letters7
Frequency rank#5,494
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “embrace” sits in English frequency

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).embracelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “determination” (#5,493), “emerged” (#5,495), “desired” (#5,492). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around embrace (IPA /ɛmˈbɹes/), averb. Corpus frequency is #5,494 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 8 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for embrace, with forms such as "ebmrace", "embarce", and "embbrace". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "emirate", "embraced", "embraces", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: 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 correct English form is embrace, spelled E-M-B-R-A-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.
  2. 2
    To seize (something) eagerly or with alacrity; to accept or take up with cordiality; to welcome.
  3. 3
    To submit to; to undergo.
  4. 4
    To encircle; to enclose, to encompass.
  5. 5
    To enfold, to include (ideas, principles, etc.); to encompass.
  6. 6
    To fasten on, as armour.
  7. 7
    To accept (someone) as a friend; to accept (someone's) help gladly.
  8. 8
    To attempt to influence (a court, jury, etc.) corruptly; to practise embracery.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how embrace appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. There was no faynting faith in that Dogge, which when his Master by a mischaunce in hunting stumbled and fell toppling downe a deepe dytche beyng vnable to recouer of himselfe, the Dogge signifying his masters mishappe, reskue came, and he was hayled up by a rope, whom the Dogge seeying almost drawne up to the edge of the dytche, cheerefully saluted, leap…
  2. I will imbrace him with a ſouldiour's arme, / That he ſhall ſhrinke vnder my curteſie, […]

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ebmrace
  • embarce
  • embbrace
  • embracce
  • embraec
  • embrcae
  • embrrace
  • emmbrace
  • emrbace
  • mebrace

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of embrace - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ebmrace2embarce2embbrace1embracce1embraec2embrcae2embrrace1emmbrace1
Edit distance from "embrace"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "embrace"?
"embrace" is spelled E-M-B-R-A-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɛmˈbɹes/.
What does "embrace" mean?
As a verb, "embrace" means: To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.
What words are commonly confused with "embrace"?
"embrace" is commonly confused with "emirate", "embraced", "embraces". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "embrace"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "embrace" is /ɛmˈbɹes/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "embrace"?
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 ... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "embrace", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

What to do next

You've looked up "embrace". Here's where to go from here.

  • "embrace" maps to 3 confusable pairs in this vintage; the highest-scored is "emirate". View pair
  • 10 edit-distance misspelling variants are generated for spell-check research on this headword. See variants
  • Usage frequency rank #5,494 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
  • Browse more English words in the "E" letter cohort. E–Z browse
  • PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day

PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list