Embrace vs Take him in

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Embrace

Top 2,000 (common)B1noun

Take him in

Top 2,000 (common)
 EmbraceTake him in
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ɪmˈbreɪs//🇺🇸 //ɪmˈbreɪs//🇬🇧 //teɪk hɪm ɪn//🇺🇸 //teɪk hɪm ɪn//
MeaningTo hug or accept something with happiness.To accept someone into your home or group.
ExampleShe decided to embrace the changes at work.After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsembrace change, embrace diversity, embrace new ideastake in a guest, take him in warmly, take her in without hesitation
Antonymsreject, refuse, shun-
Common mistakesConfusing with 'hug' when referring to physical embrace only., Using inappropriately in formal contexts when referring to ideas casually., Mixing up with 'accept' - 'embrace' implies enthusiasm or warmth.Confusing with 'take in' which means to absorb information., Incorrectly using past tense without 'him' (e.g., 'took him in').
Usage notesUse 'embrace' to express acceptance or support of ideas, feelings or physical gestures. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but may sound more emotional or poetic in some situations.Used in informal contexts to describe accepting someone. Not appropriate in formal situations.

See it in real clips

Take him in

Frequently asked questions: Embrace vs Take him in

What's the difference between Embrace and Take him in?

Embrace: To hug or accept something with happiness. Take him in: To accept someone into your home or group.

Can you show an example of each?

Embrace: She decided to embrace the changes at work. Take him in: After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet.

Can I use Embrace and Take him in interchangeably?

Not always. Embrace and Take him in are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons