all-embracing

IPA/ˌɔːl ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ/
IPA/ˌɔːl ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ/

all-embracing — adjective

1. covering or affecting every part, aspect, or detail of something, without any li

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

covering or affecting every part, aspect, or detail of something, without any limitation or exception

Example

Marta's recent book offers an all-embracing theory of how language skills develop.

attributive: all-embracing + [noun meaning theory/view/system]

The government's approach was all-embracing, covering education, housing, and jobs.

predicative: was + all-embracing

Common collocations
  • all-embracing theory
  • all-embracing view
  • all-embracing approach
  • all-embracing system
  • all-embracing policy
  • all-embracing concept
  • all-embracing explanation
Synonyms
  • comprehensive

    much more common in everyday English; 'all-embracing' is more emphatic and formal

  • all-inclusive

    similar intensity, often used for packages, prices, or deals that include everything

  • wide-ranging

    emphasises breadth across many areas rather than complete coverage of every detail

Antonyms
  • limited

    restricted in scope; the opposite of covering everything

  • narrow

    focuses on only a few aspects rather than the whole picture

Grammar Patterns

be + all-embracing

an all-embracing + [noun]

Usage Note

Commonly found in academic, political, or philosophical writing where a system, theory, or policy is described as covering all possible aspects of a topic. In everyday conversation, simpler words such as 'comprehensive' or 'complete' are more natural.

Common Mistakes

This short article gives an all-embracing account of the war.
This short article cannot give an all-embracing account of the war.
'all-embracing' means covering everything; a short article lacks the space to do that.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While all four words describe broad coverage, 'all-embracing' is the most emphatic and formal, suggesting that nothing at all is left out. 'Comprehensive' is the everyday workhorse — suitable for reports, lists, or exams that cover a subject thoroughly but may not claim absolute completeness. 'All-inclusive' overlaps but is strongly associated with travel packages, pricing, or membership deals where fees cover everything up-front. 'Wide-ranging' focuses on variety and breadth across topics rather than exhaustive detail. 'Universal' applies to something that holds true everywhere for everyone, such as a universal principle or right. For example, a 'comprehensive textbook' covers the field well; an 'all-embracing theory' claims to explain every observed phenomenon within its domain.

comprehensive ↗all-inclusive ↗wide-ranging ↗universal ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • be all-embracing in scope
  • take an all-embracing view of

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed by combining 'all' (from Old English 'eall', meaning everything) with 'embracing' (the present participle of 'embrace', which came from Latin 'implicare' via Old French 'embracer', originally meaning to clasp in the arms). The figurative sense 'to include or contain' developed in English by the 1500s, and the compound 'all-embracing' appeared later as a way to describe something that figuratively wraps around every part of a subject.

First known use

1600

1600, in the meaning defined above