incorporate
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
incorporates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
incorporated,
past participle, past
-
incorporating
present participle
-
to form into a legal corporation.
-
to put or introduce into a body or mass as an integral part or parts.
to incorporate revisions into a text.
-
to take in or include as a part or parts, as the body or a mass does.
His book incorporates his earlier essay.
-
to form or combine into one body or uniform substance, as ingredients.
- Synonyms:
- personify, amalgamate, mix, blend, assimilate, absorb
-
His book incorporates all his thinking on the subject.
-
to form into a society or organization.
verb (used without object)
-
incorporates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
incorporated,
past participle, past
-
incorporating
present participle
-
to form a legal corporation.
-
to unite or combine so as to form one body.
adjective
-
legally incorporated, as a company.
-
combined into one body, mass, or substance.
-
Archaic. embodied.
adjective
verb
-
to include or be included as a part or member of a united whole
-
to form or cause to form a united whole or mass; merge or blend
-
to form (individuals, an unincorporated enterprise, etc) into a corporation or other organization with a separate legal identity from that of its owners or members
adjective
-
combined into a whole; incorporated
-
formed into or constituted as a corporation
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
incorporatesimple
-
incorporatessimple
-
have incorporatedperfect
-
has incorporatedperfect
-
am incorporatingprogressive
-
are incorporatingprogressive
-
is incorporatingprogressive
-
have been incorporatingperfect progressive
-
has been incorporatingperfect progressive
Past
-
incorporatedsimple
-
had incorporatedperfect
-
was incorporatingprogressive
-
were incorporatingprogressive
-
had been incorporatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of incorporate1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin incorporātus, past participle of incorporāre “to embody, incarnate”; see in- 2, corporate
Origin of incorporate2
First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin incorporātus “not embodied”; see in- 3, corporate
Explanation
To incorporate is to include or integrate a part into the whole. Incorporate is a more active version of the word "include"; if you incorporate, you are adding something to the mix. In the business world, to incorporate is a legal process. In other usages, the word incorporate really just means to include something or work something into whatever was already existing. You could incorporate your new roommate's furniture into the decor of your apartment, but you may not find a way to incorporate her cat's litter box.
Vocabulary lists containing incorporate
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Recipe for Success: Thanksgiving Cooking Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Because synthetic vanillin can be produced in large quantities, researchers believe it could be easier to incorporate into commercially manufactured medical products than some more expensive or difficult-to-source compounds.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
Gillis broke character after realizing his mistake, prompting cast member Mikey Day to incorporate the slip into the sketch.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
Poppy's parents say that other NHS organisations and some universities have been in touch to explore whether they can incorporate Poppy's Promise into their teaching programme.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Ali likes to use expansive spaces and incorporate fabrics and textiles, whether it’s a red, sequin-covered chador or a tubular-looking worm made out of polyester, Lycra and spandex.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
One is that it should incorporate Feynman’s proposal to formulate quantum theory in terms of a sum over histories.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
Comedy Playground’s curriculum incorporates stand-up, led by Spies, which helps kids find their own voice, and improv, led by Katey Mushlin, which teaches them how to work with others and create meaningful bonds, Spies explained.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Her food is rooted in Jordan, she explained, even as she incorporates techniques learned from chefs in Italy, Peru and Ecuador.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
"Parents quite like it because it's healthy; it creates friendships and trading and gaming, and incorporates all these wonderful things that aren't detrimental to a child or young person's mind."
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Yield to call: This is similar to the yield to maturity, except that it incorporates the call date rather than the maturity date.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
In these cases, one mixes pseudorandom numbers from several computers, then incorporates the physical indeterminacy of randomly fluctuating voltages from a “white noise” source.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
Dr Lindsay said: "We have identified a number of different fragments that have been incorporated into the retaining wall of Perth Station, for example, and into boundary walls of gardens."
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
The researchers incorporated four additional factors that can influence whether a plasma reaches and maintains ignition:
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
Frank G. Brotz’s Kohler Electric Sink, which incorporated a motorized dishwasher into the familiar basin, promised release from the “thrice-daily drudgery” of washing dishes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Plant officials say stringent safety measures have been followed and lessons from previous nuclear accidents were incorporated into the project.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
In 1903, when they formally incorporated as a township, they called their new home Tremont.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Then, incorporating this week’s lesson, white balsamic or apple cider vinegar keeps the root vegetables’ sweetness from becoming cloying.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
Jordan Beau, owner of Daisy’s Diner & Bar in Brooklyn, said incorporating AI in his marketing materials has helped him make the most of his budget and bring in younger customers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
In particle physics, "phase space" is a multidimensional mathematical representation incorporating properties such as space, time, energy and momentum into a description of a particle system.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
A club statement announcing the purchase from Admiral Taverns said it hoped to "help protect the historic pub" by "incorporating the club, the Racecourse Ground and The Turf under a single ownership".
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
There is a possibility, eventually, of becoming an associate, of the firm incorporating his name.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
