What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incubate
Example
The mother bird will incubate her eggs until they hatch. [incubate: verb]
Example
We need to incubate this business idea before we can launch it. [incubate: verb]
breed
Example
The farmer breeds cows to produce high-quality milk. [breeds: verb]
Example
This plant has been bred to be resistant to pests. [bred: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Breed is more commonly used than incubate in everyday language, particularly in agricultural or animal husbandry contexts. Incubate is more specialized and often used in scientific or business contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between incubate and breed?
Both incubate and breed can be used in formal or informal contexts, but incubate may be more commonly used in technical or scientific writing.
