incentivize

verb

in·​cen·​tiv·​ize in-ˈsen-tə-ˌvīz How to pronounce incentivize (audio)
incentivized; incentivizing

transitive verb

: to provide with an incentive
would incentivize employees with stock options

Examples of incentivize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The additional legwork to get an app in front of a subset of new users meant this was always going to be a steep climb, and Google struggles to incentivize developers to adopt new features. Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 13 June 2025 Worse, many SIs are incentivized to maximize hours, not outcomes. Christian Monberg, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 Ray Johnston says places like this shady urban oasis should be incentivized in city codes, especially as climate change continues. Bellamy Pailthorp, NPR, 11 June 2025 Amazingly, English and Dutch auctions incentivize these same strategies. Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for incentivize

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incentivize was in 1960

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incentivize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incentivize. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!