incarnate

American  

[in-kahr-nit, -neyt, in-kahr-neyt] / ɪnˈkɑr nɪt, -neɪt, ɪnˈkɑr neɪt /

adjective

1. embodied in flesh; given a bodily, especially a human, form.

   a devil incarnate.

2. personified or typified, as a quality or idea.

   chivalry incarnate.

3. flesh-colored or crimson.

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verb (used with object)

incarnates, present (3rd person singular) incarnated, past participle, past incarnating present participle

1. to put into or represent in a concrete form, as an idea.

   The building incarnates the architect's latest theories.

2. to be the embodiment or type of.

   Her latest book incarnates the literature of our day.

3. to embody in flesh; invest with a bodily, especially a human, form.

   a man who incarnated wisdom and compassion.

incarnate British  

adjective

1. possessing bodily form, esp the human form

   a devil incarnate

2. personified or typified

   stupidity incarnate

3. (esp of plant parts) flesh-coloured or pink

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verb

1. to give a bodily or concrete form to

2. to be representative or typical of

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonincarnate
  adjective
• nonincarnated
  adjective
• unincarnate
  adjective
• unincarnated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• incarnating
  present
• incarnated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• incarnate
  simple
• incarnates
  simple
• have incarnated
  perfect
• has incarnated
  perfect
• am incarnating
  progressive
• are incarnating
  progressive
• is incarnating
  progressive
• have been incarnating
  perfect progressive
• has been incarnating
  perfect progressive

Past

• incarnated
  simple
• had incarnated
  perfect
• was incarnating
  progressive
• were incarnating
  progressive
• had been incarnating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will incarnate
  simple
• will have incarnated
  perfect
• will be incarnating
  progressive
• will have been incarnating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of incarnate

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English, from Late Latin incarnātus, past participle of incarnāre “to make into flesh,” equivalent to in- “in” + carn- “flesh” + -ātus past participle suffix; see in- ², carnal, -ate ¹

Explanation

Incarnate means “having a bodily form.” If you encounter someone who pulls off butterflies’ wings for fun, you might describe that person as “evil incarnate.” The meaning of incarnate is precisely what its Latin roots suggest. The prefix in- means “in” and caro means “flesh,” so incarnate means “in the flesh.” The word can be used in positive or negative situations, but it always describes an unusual, possibly miraculous instance in which something that can’t normally be seen or touched assumes a bodily form. For example, the Christian religion was founded on the belief that Jesus was God incarnate.

Example Sentences

Ward played at three schools in his college football odyssey, beginning as a zero-star prospect at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, before moving on to Washington State and Miami.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2025

The 22-year-old racked up 39 touchdown passes and 4,313 yards as he wrapped up a five-year college career, which included two-year stints with Incarnate Word and Washington State.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2025

He followed his Incarnate Word coach, Eric Morris, who was offensive coordinator under Dickert last season.

From Washington Times • Sep. 26, 2023

After two years at Incarnate Word, he went into the transfer portal, and this time there were plenty of top schools interested.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 31, 2023

My grandma was in her junior year of studying nursing at Incarnate Word College, and she’d gone with a girlfriend to a party.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles