incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt 
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
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
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
In 2023, high temperatures in the Pacific had helped incubate Hurricane Hilary, which led to the first-ever tropical-storm warning in Southern California.
—
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
But over the years, some of that sediment has incubated new artforms, and trash and treasure have appeared in the same stream.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025
And Mamdani expressed openness to hiring members of the Democratic Socialists of America, the left-wing group that incubated him during his political rise, to serve in his administration.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
The device was jointly launched by Zhuhai Hengqin Neogenint Technology and Suiren (Zhuhai) Medical Technology, two companies incubated by GDIIST.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incubate
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Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
But over the years, some of that sediment has incubated new artforms, and trash and treasure have appeared in the same stream.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025
And Mamdani expressed openness to hiring members of the Democratic Socialists of America, the left-wing group that incubated him during his political rise, to serve in his administration.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
The device was jointly launched by Zhuhai Hengqin Neogenint Technology and Suiren (Zhuhai) Medical Technology, two companies incubated by GDIIST.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incubate
Cite this Entry
“Incubate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incubate. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt
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-
incubated; incubating
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
: to undergo incubation
the cultures incubated for five days
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