incentivize

verb

in·​cen·​tiv·​ize in-ˈsen-tə-ˌvīz 

incentivized; incentivizing

transitive verb

: to provide with an incentive

would incentivize employees with stock options

Examples of incentivize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The measure could incentivize lawmakers to save more money because funds tucked away in the rainy day fund would no longer be considered expenditures counted toward the spending limit. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Another worry Gupta has is that the rent freeze will incentivize landlords to leave units vacant. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

That trend was driven by states with high electricity prices that have implemented policies to incentivize home battery installation, Bloomberg News reported. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026

Long-term, the act incentivizes states to reform zoning and permitting, aiming to increase housing supply, reduce mortgage friction, and cap corporate investor purchases. — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

incentive + -ize

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for incentivize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize