Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense embodies, present participle embodying, past tense, past participle embodied
1. verb
To embody an idea or quality means to be a symbol or expression of that idea or quality.
Jack Kennedy embodied all the hopes of the 1960s. [VERB noun]
For twenty-nine years, Checkpoint Charlie embodied the Cold War. [VERB noun]
That stability was embodied in the Gandhi family. [beV-ed + in/by]
Synonyms: personify, represent, express, realize More Synonyms of embody
2. verb
If something is embodiedin a particular thing, the second thing contains or consists of the first.
The proposal has been embodied in a draft resolution. [beV-ed + in/by]
U.K. employment law embodies arbitration mechanisms to settle industrial disputes. [VERB noun]
...In the British system the executive is supposedly embodied by the Crown and thelegislative by Parliament [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: incorporate, include, contain, combine More Synonyms of embody
embody in British English
(ɪmˈbɒdɪ)
verbWord forms: -bodies, -bodying or -bodied(transitive)
1.
to give a tangible, bodily, or concrete form to (an abstract concept)
2.
to be an example of or express (an idea, principle, etc), esp in action
the new warship embodies the best of British technological innovation
3. (often foll by in)
to collect or unite in a comprehensive whole, system, etc; comprise; include
all the different essays were embodied in one long article
4.
to invest (a spiritual entity) with a body or with bodily form; render incarnate
Derived forms
embodiment (emˈbodiment)
noun
embody in American English
(ɛmˈbɑdi; ɪmˈbɑdi)
verb transitiveWord forms: emˈbodied or emˈbodying
1.
to give bodily form to; make corporeal; incarnate
2.
to give definite, tangible, or visible form to; make concrete
a speech embodying democratic ideals
3.
to bring together into an organized whole
the laws embodied in a legal code
4.
to make part of an organized whole; incorporate
the latest findings embodied in the new book
Examples of 'embody' in a sentence
embody
The family embodies the purpose and meaning of both this life and the next.
Christianity Today (2000)
But he presents himself as somehow apart from the system he embodies.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It does not require machinery and advanced technology, but it embodies the basic concept of automation.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
But what needs to be stressed is that it is not just the name which is truly original but the concept it embodies.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
For example, it was embodied in a system of "informal economics".
Lee Harvey Critical Social Research (1990)
Its founding charter ought therefore to declare its independence, and its legal form should embody that independence.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The innovative organization casts top management into a different role and embodies a different concept of top management's relationship to the organization.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
The bus system embodies the vagaries of fortune, and dealing with fortune has always been definitive of what it means to be human.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is my contention that a new frame of reference is required, which embodies a critical concept of rationality or a critical theory of rationality.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
The family embodies a moment in Vietnamese history and some ancient British values too.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Excellence definitions cannot be changed very often; the definition is embodied in and expressed throughpeople, their values and their behavior.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
In other languages
embody
British English: embody VERB
To embody an idea or quality means to be a symbol or expression of that idea or quality.
They embody everything that is decent about our society.
American English: embody
Brazilian Portuguese: incorporar
Chinese: 体现
European Spanish: encarnar
French: incarner
German: verkörpern
Italian: personificare
Japanese: 具体的に表現する
Korean: 구현하다
European Portuguese: incorporar
Latin American Spanish: encarnar
Chinese translation of 'embody'
embody
(ɪmˈbɔdɪ)
vt
[idea, quality]体(體)现(現) (tǐxiàn)
(= include, contain) 包含 (bāohán)
1 (verb)
Definition
to be an example of or express (an idea or other abstract concept)
Jack Kennedy embodied all the hopes of the 1960s.
Synonyms
personify
She seemed to personify goodness and nobility.
represent
He represents everything that is wrong with the modern world.
express
He expressed his anger in a destructive way.
realize
The kaleidoscopic quality of the book is brilliantly realized on stage.
incorporate
stand for
manifest
exemplify
The character exemplifies doubt and emotional turmoil.
symbolize
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the Cold War.
typify
These buildings typify the rich extremes of the local architecture.
incarnate
actualize
their expectations that their ambitions will be actualized
reify
concretize
2 (verb)
Definition
to include as part of a whole
The proposal has been embodied in a draft resolution.
Synonyms
incorporate
The new cars will incorporate a number of major improvements.
include
The trip was extended to include a few other events.
contain
The committee contains 11 Democrats and nine Republicans.
combine
Combine the flour with water to make a paste.
Her tale combines a strong storyline with sly humour.
collect
concentrate
organize
He began to organize his papers.
take in
integrate
No attempt was made to integrate the parts into a coherent whole.
consolidate
bring together
encompass
His repertoire encompassed everything from Bach to Scott Joplin.
comprehend
codify
The latest draft of the agreement codifies the panel's decision.
systematize
Additional synonyms
in the sense of actualize
their expectations that their ambitions will be actualized
Synonyms
make real,
effect,
realize,
bring about,
bring to life,
incarnate,
put into effect,
bring into being,
make concrete,
objectify,
make happen,
effectuate,
reify,
give life or substance to
in the sense of codify
Definition
to organize or collect together (rules or procedures) systematically
The latest draft of the agreement codifies the panel's decision.
Synonyms
systematize,
catalogue,
classify,
summarize,
tabulate,
collect,
organize,
digest,
condense
in the sense of combine
Definition
to form a chemical compound
Combine the flour with water to make a paste.Her tale combines a strong storyline with sly humour.