HOW TO PRONOUNCE
incumbent
/ˌɪnˈkʌmbənt/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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Stress “cum,” and keep the “b.”
Use three syllables, with the main beat on the middle one. Keep both m and b as you move into the light final syllable, then finish with n and t.
3 syllables · Stress on syllable 2
TRY SAYING
“The article interviewed the incumbent mayor.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does incumbent mean?
adjective
- Chiefly followed by on or upon: leaning, or lying, reclining, or resting, on something else.
- Of an anther: lying on the inner side of the filament; also, of a cotyledon: having its back lying against the radicle.
- Of a body part such as a hair, spine, or wing: bent downwards or otherwise positioned so that it, or part of it, rests on or touches something else; specifically (ornithology), of the hind toe of a bird: fully resting on a support.
More meanings (8)
adjective
- (figuratively) Being the current holder of an office or a title; specifically (Christianity, obsolete), of an ecclesiastical benefice.
- (figuratively) Oppressive, pressuring.
- (figuratively) Followed by on or upon: imposed on one as an obligation, especially due to one's office or position.
- (figuratively) Hanging or leaning over.
- (figuratively, obsolete) Putting much effort into an activity or some work.
- (figuratively, obsolete) Weighing on one's mind.
noun
- The current holder of an office or title; (specifically, Christianity) the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice.
- A holder of a position as supplier to a market or market segment that allows the holder to earn above-normal profits.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˌɪnˈkʌmbənt/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
It is incumbent on the employer to find or work out for himself the method best suited to his individual needs.
He was simply an American citizen visiting London, and it was incumbent upon him to maintain the dignity of his position!
More book examples (3)
Balashëv, feeling it incumbent on him to reply, said that from the Russian side things did not appear in so gloomy a light.
She did not mean to have her own affections entangled again, and it would be incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his.
Among them I one evening chanced to see a clerical prig, who was incumbent of a parish adjoining that in which my mother lived.