INCUBATE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

incubate

verb

ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt

Definition of incubate

as in to spawn

to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen incubated her eggs for two weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to promote

to help the growth or development of hopefully, these youthful visits to the museum will incubate an enduring love of art

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of incubate Nesting is always perilous, but the moment when the male and female trade places is especially so, as the incubating bird’s movement may catch the attention of a predator. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 The scientists propose that Webb is catching supermassive black hole stars — up to 1 million times the mass of the sun — in the act of incubating the universe’s first big black holes. — Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 Others, for certain, are incubated by gridiron versions of cheer moms, who shuffle their sons around in search of stardom. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026 After retrieving wild adults from several distinct bloodlines, scientists will attempt to incubate their eggs at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery and then transfer the survivors to hatcheries across the state. — CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incubate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incubate

Verb

Slop spawns, and Waymo’s artificially intelligent cars hum into view like two-ton rolling Rorschach tests.

— Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
DeSantis also warned residents far outside the cone to watch for tornadoes, which can spawn before the core of Isaias moves ashore.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of spawn

Verb

Both those historic actions happened as part of the Biden administration's focus on anti-money laundering and efforts to promote compliance with the then-emerging virtual currency industry.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
One of Mitte’s last posts on Instagram this week promoted those showings.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of promote

Verb

The Tap on the Line (pictured above) is the only pub in the capital which sits directly on a tube station platform, and is one of the last remaining 19th-century stations.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
If weather permits, be sure to dine at Oliveto Restaurant & Lounge Bar, which sits beneath a shady grove of trees and overlooks the pool and vineyard.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of sit

Verb

Orphaned, the children are taken in by their irreverent aunt Berta, and begin a new life in the big city in a house frequented by intellectuals and where all kinds of political conspiracies are hatched.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Nvidia’s rise from an idea hatched in a booth at Denny’s to the world’s most valuable company is one of the defining business stories of the AI boom.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of hatch

Verb

Despite being a weird device with a black-and-white screen and a crank jutting out the side, the Playdate has managed to cultivate a strong and constantly growing library of games.

— Andrew Webster, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026
The plant is also widely cultivated as a fodder crop for livestock.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of cultivate

Verb

Yes, your brain might go to angular guitars, but to lay claim to that genre, all a band really needs to do is make certain their music is not simply punk.

— Brendan Hay, SPIN, 12 Oct. 2026
Four years ago, after helping found Matter, Apple rebuilt HomeKit’s underlying architecture and revamped the Home app, laying a strong foundation.

— Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of lay

Verb

Parking was no more than $5 — that would be $10 today, after inflation — and the Dodgers nurtured the next generation of fans by offering free tickets to A students and a kids’ fan club that included six tickets for $2.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Brandon is looking for a nurturing family that can provide him with a sense of understanding and support.

— The Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026