incubate
verb
in·cu·bate ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt 
ˈin-
incubated; incubating
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
1
: to sit on eggs
2
: to undergo incubation : develop
incubative
ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbā-tiv
adjective ˈin-
incubatory
ˈiŋ-kyə-bə-ˌtȯr-ē
adjective -ˌbā-tə-rē
ˈin-
Synonyms
- brood
- hatch
- set
- sit
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 eggs then incubate in warm sand for roughly 60 days, the agency says. 
Fox News, 22 July 2022 Small actions incubate hope, faith, strength, power, teamwork, and accountability. Amath Diouf, Outside Online, 17 May 2021 Funk will also consult with marketers on sports strategy and investment, and in collaboration with Point72 Ventures, Range Sports will provide resources to incubate and grow consumer sports businesses. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 July 2022 The city is meanwhile nurturing its role as a center for innovation, setting up research centers that have helped incubate dozens of start-up companies. Zen Soo And Joe Mcdonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 June 2022 Hopkins reports the virus can incubate for up to 21 days but the disease usually develops in about five days, starting with fever and chills, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. Meredith Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2022 According to physician-historian José G. Rigau-Pérez, Spanish officials purposely infected orphans with the virus so that their bodies would incubate it. Jim Downs, STAT, 23 June 2022 These embryos were at a late stage of development, and the close proximity of the parent confirmed that this dinosaur really did incubate its nest like its modern bird cousins. Katie Hunt, CNN, 17 Apr. 2022 As such, raises in the global temperature could lead to certain animals being unable to incubate their eggs in the wild. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 Mar. 2022 See More
Fox News, 22 July 2022 Small actions incubate hope, faith, strength, power, teamwork, and accountability. Amath Diouf, Outside Online, 17 May 2021 Funk will also consult with marketers on sports strategy and investment, and in collaboration with Point72 Ventures, Range Sports will provide resources to incubate and grow consumer sports businesses. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 July 2022 The city is meanwhile nurturing its role as a center for innovation, setting up research centers that have helped incubate dozens of start-up companies. Zen Soo And Joe Mcdonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 June 2022 Hopkins reports the virus can incubate for up to 21 days but the disease usually develops in about five days, starting with fever and chills, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. Meredith Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2022 According to physician-historian José G. Rigau-Pérez, Spanish officials purposely infected orphans with the virus so that their bodies would incubate it. Jim Downs, STAT, 23 June 2022 These embryos were at a late stage of development, and the close proximity of the parent confirmed that this dinosaur really did incubate its nest like its modern bird cousins. Katie Hunt, CNN, 17 Apr. 2022 As such, raises in the global temperature could lead to certain animals being unable to incubate their eggs in the wild. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 17 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin incubatus, past participle of incubare, from in- + cubare to lie
First Known Use
1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Kids Definition
incubate
verb
in·cu·bate ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt
incubated; incubating
1
: to sit upon eggs to hatch them by warmth
2
: to keep under conditions good for hatching or development
Medical Definition
incubate
verb
in·cu·bate ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt, ˈin-
incubated; incubating
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
: to undergo incubation
the cultures incubated for five days
incubate
verb
1
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
- spawn
- hatch
- sit
- lay
- brood
- set
2
as in to cultivate
to help the growth or development of hopefully, these youthful visits to the museum will incubate an enduring love of art Synonyms & Similar Words
- cultivate
- promote
- encourage
- nurture
- foster
- further
- nourish
- advance
- forward
- assist
- advocate
- fund
- underwrite
- support
- nurse
- subsidize
- finance
- champion
- endorse
- back
- aid
- publicize
- advertise
- uphold
- patronize
- abet
- endow
- stake
- plug
- indorse
- boost
- tout
- agitate (for)
- work (for)
- campaign (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prevent
- inhibit
- discourage
- hinder
- prohibit
- frustrate
- proscribe
- enjoin
- forbid
- counter
- oppose
- fight
- stifle
- combat
- contend (with)
- outlaw
- bar
- suppress
- ban
- interdict
- repress
- squelch
- subdue
- check
- battle
- impede
- squash
- halt
- retard
- arrest
- interfere (with)
- obstruct
- encumber
- snuff (out)
- shackle
- hobble
- fetter
- manacle