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 power of prediction markets derives precisely from sucking our attention toward what’s speculable—incentivizing the networked crowd to separate signal from noise at scale. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

In the meantime, the Indiana legislature passed legislation earlier this year to help incentivize a possible Bears move to the Hoosier state. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Teams like the Chicago Bulls, who in other years might have been incentivized to be as bad as possible, added Norman Powell and Nic Claxton. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Most companies were incentivized to create defensive moats around their products once they were sold to prevent competition from replacing them. — Dan Driscoll, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 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