# incarnate

/ˌɪnˈkɑɹˌneɪt/ (US) · /ɪnkˈɑːneɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/incarnate
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to be a perfect example of a quality or feeling. You use this when someone shows a specific trait in a very strong way.

For teachers: to be a perfect or typical embodiment of a quality, feeling, or idea. Often used in the passive voice to describe a person who represents a specific trait.

## Examples

- The new manager is the very incarnation of patience.
- The young athlete was the incarnation of speed and grace on the track.
- In many ways, the protagonist serves as the incarnation of the author's own philosophical struggles, embodying the tension between duty and personal freedom.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.