incentivize

Also in·cent

[in-sen-ti-vahyz]

verb (used with object)

incentivized, incentivizing 

1. to give incentives to.

   The government should incentivize the private sector to create jobs.

incentivize

/ ɪnˈsɛntɪˌvaɪz /

verb

1. (tr)

   1. to provide (someone) with a good reason for wanting to do something

      why not incentivize companies to relocate?

   2. to promote (something) with a particular incentive

      an incentivized share option scheme

Word History and Origins

Origin of incentivize¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

Bento said he doesn’t believe the end of the decal program will slow down the number of electric vehicle purchases because California has several rebate, tax credit and voucher programs to incentivize that.

From Los Angeles Times

Do we really want to incentivize vigilantes like YouTube copycat Skeet Hansen, seen in the documentary machinating and uploading his own stakeouts, pitiful farces of justice with the catchphrase “You’ve just been Skeeted”?

From Los Angeles Times

But for AI to act on this implicit knowledge, we need to incentivize it to do so.

From Salon

Cortese introduced a bill earlier this year to commission a study on how commercial and residential developments could be leveraged along the train’s line in order to incentivize private partnerships.

From Los Angeles Times

“Now that California has hundreds of thousands of zero-emission vehicles, they can take up a lot of space in the HOV lanes, and those were meant to incentivize people to carpool,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• encourage 
• motivate