What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Emulate vs Embody - What's the difference?

emulate | embody |

As verbs the difference between emulate and embody

is that emulate is to attempt to equal or be the same as while embody is to represent in a physical form; to incarnate or personify.

As an adjective emulate

is striving to excel; ambitious; emulous.

emulate

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Verb

(emulat)
  • To attempt to equal or be the same as.
  • To copy or imitate, especially a person.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=October 1 , author=Saj Chowdhury , title=Wolverhampton 1 - 2 Newcastle , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The Magpies are unbeaten and enjoying their best run since 1994, although few would have thought the class of 2011 would come close to emulating their ancestors.}}
  • (obsolete) To feel a rivalry with; to be jealous of, to envy.
  • * 1624 , John Smith, Generall Historie , in Kupperman 1988, p. 146:
  • But the councell then present emulating my successe, would not thinke it fit to spare me fortie men to be hazzarded in those unknowne regions [...].
  • (computing) of a program or device: to imitate another program or device
  • See also

    * mimic * copy * imitate * simulate

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Striving to excel; ambitious; emulous.
  • * Shakespeare
  • A most emulate pride.
    ----

    embody

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To represent in a physical form; to incarnate or personify
  • As the car salesman approached, wearing a plaid suit and slicked-back hair, he seemed to embody sleaze.
  • * South
  • The soul, while it is embodied , can no more be divided from sin.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=The generational shift Mr. Obama once embodied is, in fact, well under way, but it will not change Washington as quickly — or as harmoniously — as a lot of voters once hoped.}}
  • To include or represent, especially as part of a cohesive whole
  • The US Constitution aimed to embody the ideals of diverse groups of people, from Puritans to Deists.
    The principle was recognized by some of the early Greek philosophers who embodied it in their systems.

    Derived terms

    * disembody * embodiment