What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imbody
Example
The artist sought to imbody the essence of love in his sculpture. [imbody: verb]
Example
The hero of the story imbodied the virtues of courage and selflessness. [imbody: past tense]
embody
Example
The statue embodied the ideals of freedom and democracy. [embodied: past tense]
Example
The character in the book embodied the struggles of the working class. [embodied: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Embody is more commonly used than imbody in everyday language. Embody is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while imbody is less common and may be considered archaic or obsolete.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between imbody and embody?
Both imbody and embody are formal words that are typically used in academic or literary contexts. However, embody is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.