incubates

verb

present tense third-person singular of incubate
1
as in sits
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen incubated her eggs for two weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in promotes
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 incubates Echidnas, similar to the platypus, are monotremes, egg-laying mammals, and typically produce only one egg per breeding season, which incubates in the mother’s pouch, according to the San Diego Wildlife Alliance. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 July 2026 That person incubates the virus for five to seven days before becoming infectious to the next mosquito. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 The Blue Sky group incubates new brands for the company behind Ashley Tisdale’s Being Frenshe. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 6 May 2026 The commission’s Saudi 100 Brands program, now in its fourth year, incubates more than 100 local labels annually. — Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026 While males participate in the nesting process by bringing food; only the female incubates the eggs. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incubates
  1. sits
  2. promotes
  3. spawns
  4. cultivates
  5. lays
  6. encourages
  7. broods
  8. nurtures
Verb
  • In the living room, Arne Jacobsen’s sculptural Egg chair sits alongside a deep-green sofa by George Smith—a holdover from Hulka’s first concept for the room, and now in conversation with the willows outside.
    — Laura Regensdorf, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026
  • At the opposite end of the upper ground level sits a hunter-green kitchen with herringbone wood floors.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sits
Verb
  • Sami, 22, is a successful model on OnlyFans and promotes her content online, while Lola, 21, is outspoken about Jesus and her faith on social media.
    — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Basic science, including theoretic work, was absolutely essential to the A-bomb project and will be so for quantum computing, fusion (which the report promotes), and next-generation fission.
    — Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of promotes
Verb
  • But the software wrapped around it reinserts the objective on every turn, stores progress to a file, spawns subagents, retries on failure, and keeps going until a verifier says the task is done.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The average female lionfish spawns around 27,000 eggs every three days, so unsurprisingly, the species quickly spread throughout the Caribbean, up the East Coast and east to the Bahamas.
    — Rachel Nuwer, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026
Definition of spawns
Verb
  • This approach cultivates self-respect, not mere respectability.
    — Tee Wilson, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Frustration cultivates creativity Frictionless AI may seem appealing.
    — Dana Suskind, MD, CNBC, 29 July 2026
Definition of cultivates
Verb
  • Instead, pack blazers, dress shirts, and anything with structure in a garment bag, which requires fewer folds and lays flat.
    — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The Bay of Fundy lays claim to the largest tidal range on the planet, with waves crescendoing upwards of 50 feet a day.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lays
Verb
  • Spending time with friends and enjoying activities like golf, fishing, or attending sporting events encourages connection and supports an active lifestyle.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Boundless San Francisco, which encourages out-of-the-box ideas, echoes the venture capital ethos, Crankstart Chief Executive Officer Missy Narula said.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of encourages
Verb
  • Set in the evening, the scene broods as an unknown figure, only identifiable by his terrible Lego haircut and furry boots, stomps toward the Stallion Saloon.
    — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 3 June 2026
  • Veteran model Eva Herzigova is pictured in a sculptural skirt suit, while Liu Wen broods in a puffy leather bomber jacket.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of broods
Verb
  • Sam is smart about his feelings, but has a kind energy that nurtures others with empathy and food.
    — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • An influential alcohol industry, which nurtures deep ties to lawmakers, charitable groups, and consumers, has kept a tight grip on regulation — at the expense of public health.
    — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2026
Definition of nurtures

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Cite this Entry

“Incubates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incubates. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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