Incorporate
verb Base: incorporate | Past: incorporated | Past Participle: incorporated | -ing: incorporating | 3rd person: incorporates
Definition
1. Include something as part of something larger.
2. Legally register a business as a corporation.
2. Legally register a business as a corporation.
Context Alive
The chef had been experimenting with new flavors all week. She decided to incorporate fresh herbs from her garden into the classic recipe. The result was a dish that felt both familiar and exciting, and her customers loved every bite.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 Include Something as Part of Something Larger (Verb) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about adding something into an existing whole. Imagine a teacher who wants to make her lessons more fun. She decides to incorporate short videos into her presentations. The videos become part of the lesson. This is incorporating — blending something new into what’s already there. You might incorporate customer feedback into a new product, or a designer could incorporate traditional patterns into modern clothing. Or picture a band that incorporates jazz elements into their rock music, creating a fresh and unique sound. The word suggests a smooth, natural blend — not just adding, but making it fit. ✏️ Unlike “add,” incorporate means the new part becomes fully mixed in — it doesn’t stand out as separate.
Vivid ExampleThe school wanted to prepare students for the future. They incorporated coding classes into the weekly schedule, and within months, even the youngest students were building simple websites with confidence.
2 Legally Register a Business as a Corporation (Verb) Less Common ▼
This meaning is about officially turning a business into a legal corporation. Imagine two friends who have been selling handmade candles from their garage. Business is growing fast, so they decide to incorporate their company. This is incorporating — registering the business as a legal entity with its own identity. You might hear “we incorporated last year” or “she decided to incorporate her freelance business.” Or think about a tech startup that incorporates in order to attract investors and protect the founders legally. The word carries a sense of becoming official and serious. ✏️ When a company is incorporated, you often see “Inc.” after its name — like “Apple Inc.”
Vivid ExampleAfter years of running the bakery as a small family business, they finally decided to incorporate it. The process took a few weeks, but it gave them legal protection and made it easier to apply for bigger loans.
Examples from the Street
“We need to incorporate customer feedback into the next version.”
We need to include what customers told us when we build the update
“She incorporated elements of jazz into her classical performance.”
She blended jazz features into her traditional piece to create something new
“Try to incorporate more vegetables into your diet.”
Try to add more veg as part of your regular eating habits
Common Patterns
incorporate [something] into [something] → include or blend one thing as part of another — VERY COMMON
incorporate [something] in/within [something] → slightly more formal variation of the same meaning
incorporate elements/features/aspects of → take selected parts of something and blend them in
incorporate feedback/suggestions/ideas → take what others have said and build it into your work
try to / aim to / seek to incorporate → express an intention to include something
successfully/fully/seamlessly incorporated → something has been blended in smoothly and completely
incorporate a business/company → officially register it as a legal entity
be incorporated in [place] → be officially registered in a particular location
an incorporated company (Inc.) → a business that has been legally registered
Collocations
3 collocationsincorporate feedback
include suggestions in your work
incorporate into
add something as part of a whole
seamlessly incorporate
add something so smoothly it feels natural
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The architect incorporated traditional local materials into the modern design
The designer blended authentic regional building supplies with the contemporary layout.
2
We’ve incorporated all your suggestions into the final draft
We’ve taken everything you recommended and worked it into the completed version.
3
The chef incorporates elements of Japanese cuisine into her French cooking
The cook blends features from Japanese food traditions with her classic French dishes.
4
The new curriculum incorporates more hands-on learning and less textbook work
The updated programme includes more practical activities and fewer book-based exercises.
5
She managed to seamlessly incorporate humour into a very serious presentation
She found a way to weave comedy smoothly into a talk on a weighty subject without it feeling forced.
6
The company aims to incorporate artificial intelligence into its customer service by next year
The business plans to bring in automated smart technology as part of its client support within twelve months.
7
You should incorporate more real-life examples into your essays to make them more convincing
You ought to weave in more practical, everyday illustrations to strengthen your written arguments.
8
The museum incorporated interactive displays to attract younger visitors
The gallery added hands-on exhibits to draw in a younger audience.
9
The band has successfully incorporated electronic sounds into their acoustic style
The group has managed to blend digital effects with their natural, unplugged sound in a way that works.
10
The business was incorporated in Delaware but operates out of New York
The company was officially registered as a legal entity in one state but runs its day-to-day operations from another.
Learner Examples
★
A good teacher incorporates music, games, and conversation into lessons rather than relying on grammar drills alone
An effective instructor weaves songs, activities, and real dialogue into classes instead of depending solely on repetitive structure exercises.
★
Students who incorporate English into their daily routine — listening to podcasts, reading articles, thinking in the language — improve far faster than those who only study in class
Learners who make the language part of their everyday life — tuning into audio shows, going through written pieces, forming thoughts without translating — progress much more quickly than those who only practise during lessons.
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymsinclude
add as part of
integrate
blend into a whole
combine
merge together
embed
place within
Antonymsexclude
leave out
separate
keep apart
remove
take out