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

Impact organizations incentivize founders to optimize for policy metrics rather than gross margins. — Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The Department of Interior is providing $100 million for the four upper basin states to incentivize farmers and municipalities to use less water. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

Something that some experts claim ended up incentivizing cheating over honestly working on the challenge. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 30 July 2026

By incentivizing the purchase of a new electric vehicle, that will encourage new production, which means more EVs on the road. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 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