incorporate

1 of 2

verb

in·​cor·​po·​rate in-ˈkȯr-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce incorporate (audio)
incorporated; incorporating

transitive verb

1
a
: to unite or work into something already existent so as to form an indistinguishable whole
b
: to blend or combine thoroughly
2
a
: to form into a legal corporation
b
: to admit to membership in a corporate body
3
: to give material form to : embody

intransitive verb

1
: to unite in or as one body
2
: to form or become a corporation
incorporable adjective
incorporative
in-ˈkȯr-pə-ˌrā-tiv How to pronounce incorporate (audio)
-p(ə-)rə-tiv
adjective
incorporator noun

incorporate

2 of 2

adjective

in·​cor·​po·​rate in-ˈkȯr-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce incorporate (audio)

Did you know?

From its roots, incorporate means basically "add into a body" or "form into a body". So, for example, a chef might decide to incorporate a couple of new ingredients into an old recipe, and then might incorporate that new item into the restaurant's dinner menu. The restaurant itself was probably incorporated at the beginning, and so is now a corporation—that is, a "body" that's legally allowed to act like a single person in certain ways, even if it may have many individual employees. As you can see, the two meanings turn out to be fairly different.

Examples of incorporate in a Sentence

Verb This design incorporates the best features of our earlier models. a diet that incorporates many different fruits and vegetables The company was incorporated in 1981. The company incorporated in 1981.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
The outcome will encourage you to incorporate more activities into your routine that ease stress and connect you to positive individuals who inspire you. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 Concession stands incorporate facial recognition to allow fans who have linked their wallets to the arena’s app to walk in and out, bypassing registers. Andrew Greif, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
This week is all about incorporate powerful plants into your diet, which coincides with meal prep from last week and even contributes to your hydration goals (yes, fruits and veggies are packed with water!). Good Housekeeping, 6 Jan. 2023 This new exhibition examines how like artists like Eadweard Muybridge, Andy Warhol, Carl Pope Jr., Lorna Simpson and more incorporate photographic images in their work with a focus on the tools, techniques and processes at their disposal. Joey Morona, cleveland, 17 Nov. 2022 See all Example Sentences for incorporate 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Late Latin incorporatus, past participle of incorporare, from Latin in- + corpor-, corpus body — more at midriff

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incorporate was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near incorporate

Cite this Entry

“Incorporate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incorporate. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

incorporate

verb
in·​cor·​po·​rate
in-ˈkȯr-pə-ˌrāt
incorporated; incorporating
1
: to unite or combine to form a single whole : blend
2
: to give form to : embody
3
: to form, make into, or become a corporation
incorporate a company
incorporation
-ˌkȯr-pə-ˈrā-shən
noun
incorporator
-ˈkȯr-pə-ˌrāt-ər
noun

Medical Definition

incorporate

transitive verb
in·​cor·​po·​rate in-ˈkȯr-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce incorporate (audio)
incorporated; incorporating
: to subject to incorporation
incorporated his psychiatrist in a system of delusions
incorporative adjective

Legal Definition

incorporate

verb
in·​cor·​po·​rate in-ˈkȯr-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce incorporate (audio)
incorporated; incorporating

transitive verb

1
: to unite with something else to form a whole
incorporate the agreement into the divorce
2
: to form (as a business) into a legal corporation
3
: to include (rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights) within the guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment see also selective incorporation, total incorporation

intransitive verb

: to form a legal corporation
incorporation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on incorporate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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