Antonyms for incumbent


Grammar : Adj, noun
Spell : in-kuhm-buh nt
Phonetic Transcription : ɪnˈkʌm bənt


Definition of incumbent

Origin :
  • early 15c., "person holding a church position," from Medieval Latin incumbentem (nominative incumbens) "holder of a church position," noun use of present participle of incumbere "to obtain or possess," from Latin incumbere "recline on," figuratively "apply oneself to," from in- "on" (see in- (2)) + -cumbere "lie down," related to cubare "to lie" (see cubicle). Extended to holders of any office from 1670s.
  • adj obligatory
  • noun officeholder
Example sentences :
  • It was incumbent upon Mr. Gladstone to lead the opposition to this motion.
  • Extract from : « The Grand Old Man » by Richard B. Cook
  • Fanny did not see that; but felt it incumbent on her to continue talking. '
  • Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens
  • The very utmost he can do is no more than is incumbent upon him.
  • Extract from : « Old-Fashioned Ethics and Common-Sense Metaphysics » by William Thomas Thornton
  • It could not, then, be incumbent on her to let her life be taken in payment.
  • Extract from : « Old-Fashioned Ethics and Common-Sense Metaphysics » by William Thomas Thornton
  • Every man, woman, and child, thinks it incumbent on them to sport a mourning face.
  • Extract from : « Arthur O'Leary » by Charles James Lever
  • And now he was once more seated close to her, and it was incumbent on him to speak to her.
  • Extract from : « Is He Popenjoy? » by Anthony Trollope
  • "We must all die," said the deacon, feeling that it was incumbent on him to say something religious.
  • Extract from : « The Cash Boy » by Horatio Alger Jr.
  • This was the feeling that had made it incumbent on him to repudiate a wife who had so treated him.
  • Extract from : « Kept in the Dark » by Anthony Trollope
  • He had lived as an aristocrat—it was incumbent on him, he said, not to shirk death as one.
  • Extract from : « The False Chevalier » by William Douw Lighthall
  • A positive injunction is that which is incumbent on every believer.
  • Extract from : « A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihd' » by Moulavi Gergh Ali

Synonyms for incumbent

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019