incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt 
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
1
a
: to sit on (eggs) so as to hatch by the warmth of the body
b
: to maintain (something, such as an embryo or a chemically active system) under conditions favorable for hatching, development, or reaction
2
: to cause or aid the development of
incubate an idea
Examples of incubate in a Sentence
The female bird incubates the eggs.
Researchers incubated the cells in the laboratory.
The cultures must incubate for five more days.
The virus will incubate in the body for several days before the patient experiences any symptoms.
Recent Examples on the Web
The researchers found that the fungus and wood need to be incubated together for three months in a very moist environment.
—
Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Dec. 2024
Her mother succumbed to avian influenza after laying her egg, and her father nearly died trying to incubate the egg by himself.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024
Why dedicate your resources to incubating new products when the old one makes so much money?
—Jason Schreier, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024
For a breeding bird, incubating a nest is always a gamble.
—Ian Rose, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incubate 
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Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Dec. 2024
Her mother succumbed to avian influenza after laying her egg, and her father nearly died trying to incubate the egg by himself.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024
Why dedicate your resources to incubating new products when the old one makes so much money?
—Jason Schreier, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024
For a breeding bird, incubating a nest is always a gamble.
—Ian Rose, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incubate
Dictionary Entries Near incubate
Cite this Entry
“Incubate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incubate. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
1
: to sit on eggs to hatch them by warmth
2
: to maintain (as bacteria or a chemically active system) under conditions good for development or reaction
3
: to go through the process of incubation
Medical Definition
incubate
verb
in·cu·bate
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt, ˈin-
incubated; incubating
1
: to maintain (as eggs, embryos of animals, or bacteria) under prescribed and usually controlled conditions favorable for hatching or development especially in an incubator
2
: to maintain (a chemically active system) under controlled conditions for the development of a reaction
: to undergo incubation
the cultures incubated for five days
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