incumbent
holding an indicated position, role, office, etc., currently: the incumbent officers of the club.
obligatory (often followed by on or upon): a duty incumbent upon me.
Archaic. resting, lying, leaning, or pressing on something: incumbent upon the cool grass.
the holder of an office: The incumbent was challenged by a fusion candidate.
British. a person who holds an ecclesiastical benefice.
Origin of incumbent
1Other words from incumbent
- in·cum·bent·ly, adverb
- an·ti-in·cum·bent, adjective, noun
- non·in·cum·bent, noun, adjective
Words Nearby incumbent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use incumbent in a sentence
A couple of years ago, Aurora's plan was to supply self-driving software and sensors to automaking incumbents.
Toyota partners with startup Aurora to develop self-driving taxis | Timothy B. Lee | February 9, 2021 | Ars Technica“It’s incumbent on the Justice Department, if it wants to restore that confidence, to act quickly” to hold the most violent Capitol rioters accountable, he added.
The feds say he’s an extremist leader who directed rioters. He also had top-secret clearance and worked for the FBI, attorney says. | Katie Shepherd | February 9, 2021 | Washington PostIn 2020, Republicans lost the majority but held their open seats, instead losing several incumbents.
Republican Sen. Richard C. Shelby announces he will retire in 2022 | Colby Itkowitz, Erica Werner | February 9, 2021 | Washington Post“Given the reports and the seriousness that some of those reports brought to bear, I believe that it's incumbent upon us in the Legislature to review our taxing methods for harvested timber,” Witt said.
“We Have Counties in Deep Trouble”: Oregon Lawmakers Seek to Reverse Timber Tax Cuts That Cost Communities Billions | by Rob Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Tony Schick, Oregon Public Broadcasting | February 5, 2021 | ProPublicaThe United States, an important military ally, is said to be considering censuring the supposed victor, incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, over allegations of violence and election fraud.
Myanmar: How repressive regimes quash dissent with Internet shutdowns | Robert Hackett | February 2, 2021 | Fortune
Twelve incumbent governors who publicly support Common Core easily won re-election.
When Democratic incumbent Rep. Jim Matheson opted not to run again, Love won by several thousand votes in the 2014 midterms.
Actually, Brown lost the Senate race to Democrat incumbent Jean Shaheen because Scott once posed nude for Cosmo.
The result was that the three-term incumbent pulled off a solid 10-point win.
Kansas Republicans Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback Lifted by Rising Tide | Ben Jacobs | November 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Democratic incumbent was doing fine with local issues until her opponent used the ISIS beheadings to turn the tide.
Then he got slowly upon his knees, and, gently removing the incumbent folds of canvas, looked out.
Hunting the Lions | R.M. BallantyneThe observance is incumbent on an individual in a certain condition; but his heart is against it.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamDoubtless he had felt it incumbent on himself to sing my praises, for he had always been blind to my faults.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydHis lordship said that it was incumbent upon the house to come to a decision upon the question.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. | E. Farr and E. H. NolanSire, the title of most Christian king is not a vain one; it makes an ardent zeal for religion incumbent on its possessor.
Chicot the Jester | Alexandre Dumas, Pere
British Dictionary definitions for incumbent
/ (ɪnˈkʌmbənt) /
formal (often postpositive and foll by on or upon and an infinitive) morally binding or necessary; obligatory: it is incumbent on me to attend
(usually postpositive and foll by on) resting or lying (on)
a person who holds an office, esp a clergyman holding a benefice
Origin of incumbent
1Derived forms of incumbent
- incumbently, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for incumbent
[ (in-kum-buhnt) ]
One who holds a public office. By virtue of their experience in office, their exposure to the public, and their ability to raise campaign funds, incumbents usually have a significant advantage over opponents if they choose to run for reelection.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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