incumbent on/upon
idiom
formal
: necessary as a duty for (someone)
It is incumbent on us to help.
It is incumbent upon all employees to participate.
Examples of incumbent on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stove, refrigerator, sink, and closets lined two sides of the connecting passageway making all of the efficiency in that kitchen incumbent upon the tenant.
—
Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025
The obligation is incumbent on ‘[p]arties’, which must be read as ‘all parties’, thus creating individual obligations for each party to the Agreement.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The group felt doing so was incumbent upon them after months of little updates into the city's independent investigation of the complaint.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Apr. 2025
The big picture: The mayoral election will be the first in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 16 Feb. 2025
Her pro prospects are incumbent upon her learning to play point guard, so the long-term benefits of her move to Fort Worth are clear.
—Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
At least four of 10 City Council seats will be open, without an incumbent on the ballot.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
Next year's mayoral election will be the first in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot, offering a fresh opportunity to transform city policy — and a longer, four-year term to get started on it.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Two years after Leininger began contributing, an incumbent on the board, Democrat Mary Knott Perkins, lost her seat to Donna Ballard, the wife of a Pentecostal minister from the suburbs of Houston.
—Ines Chomnalez, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Aug. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025
The obligation is incumbent on ‘[p]arties’, which must be read as ‘all parties’, thus creating individual obligations for each party to the Agreement.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The group felt doing so was incumbent upon them after months of little updates into the city's independent investigation of the complaint.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Apr. 2025
The big picture: The mayoral election will be the first in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 16 Feb. 2025
Her pro prospects are incumbent upon her learning to play point guard, so the long-term benefits of her move to Fort Worth are clear.
—Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
At least four of 10 City Council seats will be open, without an incumbent on the ballot.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
Next year's mayoral election will be the first in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot, offering a fresh opportunity to transform city policy — and a longer, four-year term to get started on it.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Two years after Leininger began contributing, an incumbent on the board, Democrat Mary Knott Perkins, lost her seat to Donna Ballard, the wife of a Pentecostal minister from the suburbs of Houston.
—Ines Chomnalez, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Incumbent on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incumbent%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share