incubate

verb

in·​cu·​bate ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt How to pronounce incubate (audio)
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
Synonyms of incubatenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to sit on (eggs) so as to hatch by the warmth of the body
b
: to maintain (something, such as an embryo or a chemically active system) under conditions favorable for hatching, development, or reaction
2
: to cause or aid the development of
incubate an idea

intransitive verb

1
: to sit on eggs
2
: to undergo incubation : develop
incubative
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbā-tiv How to pronounce incubate (audio)
ˈin-
adjective
incubatory
ˈiŋ-kyə-bə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce incubate (audio)
-ˌbā-tə-rē, 
ˈin-
adjective

Synonyms of incubate

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Examples of incubate in a Sentence

The female bird incubates the eggs. Researchers incubated the cells in the laboratory. The cultures must incubate for five more days. The virus will incubate in the body for several days before the patient experiences any symptoms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Solowin Holdings signed a memorandum in April with SC Ventures, Standard Chartered's venture arm, to incubate an AI payments project called AGENPAY. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Pike's biological parents, Walker and Anchovy, had trouble incubating their egg. — Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Google’s self-driving car project graduated from X to become Waymo, and Google Glass was likewise incubated there. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026 So maybe, counterintuitively, this is the perfect moment for the BBC to launch a new reality show that aims to incubate the next great art-dealing duo. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incubate

Word History

Etymology

Latin incubatus, past participle of incubare, from in- + cubare to lie

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of incubate was in 1641

Rhymes for incubate

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Browse Nearby Words

incrustation
incubate
incubation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incubate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incubate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

incubate

verb
in·​cu·​bate ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt How to pronounce incubate (audio)
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
1
: to sit on eggs to hatch them by warmth
2
: to maintain (as bacteria or a chemically active system) under conditions good for development or reaction
3
: to go through the process of incubation

Medical Definition

incubate

verb
in·​cu·​bate ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt, ˈin- How to pronounce incubate (audio)
incubated; incubating

transitive verb

1
: to maintain (as eggs, embryos of animals, or bacteria) under prescribed and usually controlled conditions favorable for hatching or development especially in an incubator
2
: to maintain (a chemically active system) under controlled conditions for the development of a reaction

intransitive verb

: to undergo incubation
the cultures incubated for five days
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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