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# incumbent

noun (an incumbent, incumbents); adjective (incumbent; incumbent on/upon someone)

«incumbent» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) The incumbent is the person who holds an official job right now, such as a president, mayor or member of parliament. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#m1)
2. (formal) Incumbent on or upon you means it is your duty: if it is incumbent on you to do something, you must do it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#m2)
3. (church) The incumbent of a parish is the priest or vicar in charge of it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#m3)

### In the lessons

Mostly heard in news about elections: «the incumbent mayor», «the incumbent won again», «defeat the incumbent». In exam and formal writing: «it is incumbent upon all pupils to…». In church life, the vicar or rector of a parish is its incumbent. It tells the reader who already holds the post, as opposed to the challenger who wants it.

### Examples

- The incumbent mayor is standing for election again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#x1)
- The challenger beat the incumbent by two hundred votes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#x2)
- It is incumbent upon every visitor to sign the book at the front desk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#x3)
- The incumbent president gave a speech on television. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#x4)
- The parish has had the same incumbent for many years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#x5)
- As class captain, it was incumbent on Mia to help new pupils. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#x6)
- Voters were unhappy with the incumbent government. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/#x7)

### Note

Formal word; children rarely say it. As an adjective it usually comes before a noun («the incumbent leader») or in the phrase «incumbent on/upon». Do not confuse with «encumber» (to weigh down). Opposite in elections: challenger.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «incumbent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incumbent/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«incumbent» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/incumbent.html) on Mova free.