incumbent Hear it!

incumbent Definition

in·cum·bent (in kum′bənt)

adjective

  1. lying, resting, or pressing with its weight on something else
  2. currently in office

Etymology: L incumbens, prp. of incumbere, to recline or rest on < in-, on + cubare, to lie down: see cube

noun

the holder of an office or benefice

incumbent Idioms

incumbent on

or incumbent upon

resting upon as a duty or obligation

incumbent Synonyms

incumbent

modif.

obligatory, binding, compelling; see necessary 1, urgent 1.

incumbent Synonyms

incumbent

n.

officeholder, official, occupant, in*; see administrator, authority 3.

incumbent Usage Examples

Converse of object

wire: The service would apparently compete most heavily with three wireless carriers rather than with wired incumbents because of the mobile voice potential.

Adjective modifier

  • previous: With a new intake of students each year, such courses benefit from the previous incumbents ' efforts.
  • current: Actually, on that description it could be any of the current incumbents.
  • present: The last two chapters are devoted to the present incumbents.

Preposition: on

  • generation: It is incumbent on this generation to ensure that their actions do not deprive future generations of access to their own past.
  • party: It is incumbent on both parties to negotiate if possible and at least to make an attempt to settle the case.
  • government: Mr Laws said that it was " incumbent on the government " to reveal how much the wrongful payments cost.

Modifying Another Word

therefore: It is therefore incumbent upon us to do all we can to remove barriers to working class unity.

Modifies a noun

  • telcos: Like all incumbent telcos, BT is still a long way from having all the answers.
  • mayor: Maputo In Maputo the Frelimo candidate, incumbent mayor Artur Canana won, but with a strong showing by independent candidate Philippe Gagnaux.
  • operator: Around three quarters are employed in the incumbent operator BT, with the remainder spread over 30 telecommunications companies.
  • president: In addition they sought to encourage the incumbent President of the United States to take a much more active role in Irish affairs.
  • MP: The incumbent MP was a Tory who held slightly less than 50 % of the vote.
  • supplier: Your success at this stage depends on the incumbent supplier.

Used with adjective complement

become: He was ordained priest in 1650 and became incumbent of Credenhill, near Hereford in 1661.

Preposition: of

  • benefice: Maybe only Important Clergy, or incumbents of Important Benefices, are fortunate enough to live in such exotic palaces.. .
  • parish: This property was noted for being leased to other than the incumbent of the parish, from time to time.
  • church: Since the formation of the Benefice of Cwmbran in 1971 the Rector is the incumbent of all churches in the benefice.
  • office: Now if it were the current incumbent of the oval office that he saved then I personally would have shot him for this action.
  • post: The first incumbent of this post was Group Captain A.H. Hewitt.