incumbent
gb/ɪŋkˈʌmbənt/ us/ɪŋkˈʌmbənt/
C1
English
~ 7100
hivatalban lévő tisztségviselő, hivatalban lévő, köteles, plébános, ráfekvő
NOUN
C1
1
Usage pattern:
the incumbent [in/of a position]
The incumbent faces a serious challenge from a young reform candidate.
A hivatalban lévő tisztségviselő komoly kihívással néz szembe egy fiatal reformjelölt részéről.
Voters will decide whether to re-elect the incumbent or choose a newcomer.
A választók döntik el, hogy újraválasztják-e a hivatalban lévő tisztségviselőt, vagy inkább egy új jelöltet választanak.
The incumbent has raised far more money than any of his opponents.
Several incumbents lost their seats in the recent election.
As the incumbent, she enjoys strong name recognition in the district.
Learner examples
The incumbent won the election again.
A hivatalban lévő tisztségviselő ismét megnyerte a választást.
Voters were angry, so the incumbent lost.
A választók dühösek voltak, ezért a hivatalban lévő tisztségviselő elvesztette a választást.
The new candidate is popular, but the incumbent is still strong.
Many people know the incumbent because he is on TV a lot.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *incumbent* as a noun with an article like a job title (e.g. '*an incumbent of the company*') when they should say 'the incumbent' for a specific position, or use a different word such as 'employee'. They also sometimes confuse the noun ('the incumbent') with the adjective before a title ('the incumbent president').
Meaning
current holder of an office
Collocations
the incumbent
|incumbent president
|incumbent mayor
|defeat the incumbent
|challenge the incumbent
|incumbent advantage
Synonyms
officeholder (More general and slightly more formal; used for any person holding an office, not especially in an election context.)
|
holder (Shorter and more general; often needs additional words (e.g. 'holder of the seat') to be clear.)
Antonyms
challenger (Refers to the person trying to take the incumbent’s position in an election or contest.)
|
opponent (More general; any person competing against the incumbent for the same position.)
Themes
politics
|business
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The person who has a job or office now, especially in politics, when someone else wants to take that job.
The person who currently holds a particular office, position, or job, especially in politics, when that position is being contested or compared with others.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
incumbent [position/title]
The incumbent president is seeking a second term.
A hivatalban lévő elnök második ciklusra pályázik.
Polls show the incumbent governor with a narrow lead.
A felmérések szerint a hivatalban lévő kormányzó szűk előnnyel vezet.
The incumbent mayor refused to take part in the debate.
Analysts say it is difficult to defeat an incumbent leader.
The party decided not to support the incumbent candidate this time.
Learner examples
The incumbent president is very popular.
A hivatalban lévő elnök nagyon népszerű.
The incumbent leader wants another four years in power.
A hivatalban lévő vezető újabb négy évet akar hatalmon tölteni.
It is hard to beat an incumbent mayor.
The incumbent government faces many problems.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes put *incumbent* after the noun (e.g. '*the president incumbent*') instead of before it ('the incumbent president'). They also sometimes use *incumbent* alone as an adjective without a clear noun (e.g. '*he is incumbent*') when it should modify a role ('he is the incumbent mayor').
Meaning
currently in office or position
Collocations
incumbent president
|incumbent government
|incumbent party
|incumbent administration
|incumbent leader
|incumbent CEO
Synonyms
sitting (Common in political and legal contexts (e.g. 'sitting president'); slightly more informal than 'incumbent' in everyday news usage.)
|
current (More general and everyday; does not carry the specific connotation of holding an official position in an election context.)
Antonyms
incoming (Describes the person or administration that is about to begin holding office, often after replacing the incumbent.)
|
former (Refers to someone who previously held the office but no longer does.)
Themes
politics
|business
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a job or office now, especially in politics, before or during an election.
Currently holding a particular office or position, especially an elected or official one, often when contrasted with rivals or successors.
C1
FORMAL
3
köteles
B1
Usage pattern:
it is incumbent on [someone] to [do something]
It is incumbent on all members to attend the annual meeting.
Minden tag köteles részt venni az éves közgyűlésen.
The report says it is incumbent upon governments to act quickly on climate change.
A jelentés szerint a kormányok kötelesek gyorsan cselekedni az éghajlatváltozás ügyében.
As parents, it is incumbent on us to keep our children safe.
The judge stated that it was incumbent upon the company to ensure worker safety.
In such situations, it is incumbent on management to communicate clearly with staff.
Learner examples
It is incumbent on you to tell the truth.
Köteles vagy megmondani az igazat.
The teacher said it is incumbent upon every student to do their homework.
A tanár azt mondta, hogy minden diák köteles megcsinálni a házi feladatát.
It is incumbent on the company to pay workers on time.
In an emergency, it is incumbent on staff to help customers.
Common mistake:
Learners often forget the preposition and say '*incumbent someone*' instead of 'incumbent on/upon someone'. Another mistake is placing it directly before a noun like a normal adjective ('*an incumbent duty*') in this sense; in modern usage, this duty meaning is almost always in the pattern 'it is incumbent on/upon [someone] to [do something]'.
Meaning
obligatory; a duty for someone
Collocations
incumbent on all of us
|incumbent upon the government
|it is incumbent on
|incumbent on every citizen
|incumbent upon employers
|incumbent on managers to [verb]
Synonyms
obligatory (Very close in meaning but more general; does not usually take 'on/upon someone' directly.)
|
mandatory (Stronger sense of legal or official requirement; less about moral duty than *incumbent* can be.)
Antonyms
optional (Emphasizes that something is not a duty or requirement but a free choice.)
|
voluntary (Highlights that an action is done by choice, not because it is required.)
Themes
law
|ethics
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used with 'on' or 'upon' to say that a person must do something because it is their duty or responsibility.
Used in the phrase "incumbent on/upon someone" to mean that something is a duty or responsibility that that person is morally or officially required to fulfill.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
plébános
B2
Usage pattern:
the incumbent of [a parish/church]
The new incumbent of the parish was welcomed at a special service.
Az egyházközség új plébánosát külön szertartáson köszöntötték.
She served as incumbent of St Peter's for over twenty years.
Több mint húsz évig ő volt a Szent Péter-templom plébánosa.
The bishop announced that the parish would soon have a new incumbent.
After the incumbent retired, the church remained without a priest for several months.
Learner examples
The incumbent of this church lives next door.
Ennek a templomnak a plébánosa a szomszédban lakik.
People in the village know the incumbent very well.
Az emberek a faluban nagyon jól ismerik a plébánost.
The bishop chose a new incumbent for the parish.
Common mistake:
This meaning is specialized and often confused with the more general political sense of *incumbent*. Learners may misunderstand church notices using *incumbent* if they only know the political meaning.
Meaning
priest in charge of a parish
Collocations
the incumbent of the parish
|parish incumbent
|incumbent of St Mary's
|former incumbent
|licensed incumbent
Synonyms
parish priest (More transparent for general learners; similar role, but 'incumbent' is a legal/official term in certain church structures.)
|
vicar (Often overlaps in the Church of England, but 'vicar' is a more common everyday term; 'incumbent' is the formal legal designation.)
Antonyms
curate (Not a direct opposite in meaning, but a junior priest who assists the incumbent rather than leading the parish.)
Themes
religion
|society
|relationships
Definition
In some Christian churches, the main priest who is responsible for a local church or area.
In some Christian churches, especially in the Church of England and related traditions, the priest who has official responsibility for a particular church or parish.
C2
TECHNICAL
5
ráfekvő
C2
Usage pattern:
incumbent [structure] on [something]
In some species, the leaves are incumbent on the stem.
Egyes fajoknál a levelek a szárhoz simulnak.
The lichen forms an incumbent layer on the surface of the rock.
A zuzmó a szikla felszínén ráfekvő réteget alkot.
The petals are incumbent, completely covering the reproductive organs.
Learner examples
The plant has small leaves that are incumbent on the stem.
A növénynek apró, a szárhoz simuló levelei vannak.
A thin incumbent layer of moss covered the stone.
A követ vékony, ráfekvő moharéteg borította.
Some shells are incumbent on the sea floor.
Meaning
lying or resting on something
Collocations
incumbent leaves
|incumbent petals
|incumbent lichen
|incumbent shell
|incumbent fronds
Synonyms
overlying (Technical and similar, but slightly broader; may not imply direct contact in the same way.)
Antonyms
erect (In botanical descriptions, refers to structures that stand upright rather than lying on another surface.)
Themes
science
|biology
|nature
Definition
Used in science to say that something is lying on top of or pressed against another thing.
In scientific and technical descriptions, especially in biology, lying down on or resting directly on the surface of something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
incumbent
IPA
GB/ɪŋkˈʌmbənt/
US/ɪŋkˈʌmbənt/
Syllables & stress
in - cum - bent (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cum)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: incumbent
Noun
- Base: incumbent
- Plural: incumbents
Word family
Forms
incumbents
noun
Core family
incumbency
noun C1
Expressions
it is incumbent upon
1/ˈɪt ˈɪz ɪŋkˈʌmbənt əpˈɑn/
fixed phrase
formal
saying something is a duty
Used to say that someone must do something because it is their duty or responsibility. Usually followed by a person and 'to' plus a verb.
Examples
- It is incumbent upon all of us to reduce waste wherever possible.
- In a democracy, it is incumbent upon citizens to stay informed.
- The report concludes that it is incumbent upon the authorities to act immediately.
the incumbent government
1/ðə ɪŋkˈʌmbənt ɡˈʌvɚnmənt/
fixed phrase
current government in power
The government that has power now, often when people compare it with possible new governments.
Examples
- The incumbent government is under pressure to cut taxes.
- Many voters are unhappy with the incumbent government’s record on health care.
- The opposition has accused the incumbent government of failing to tackle inflation.
the incumbent party
1/ðə ɪŋkˈʌmbənt pˈɑɹti/
fixed phrase
party currently in power
The political party that is in power now, especially in a country or region where another party wants to win the next election.
Examples
- The incumbent party is struggling to hold on to its majority.
- Scandals have damaged public trust in the incumbent party.
- The incumbent party faces a tough challenge from a new movement.
the incumbent president
1/ðə ɪŋkˈʌmbənt pɹˈɛzɪdənt/
fixed phrase
current president in office
The president who has the job now, especially when people talk about an election or a possible new president.
Examples
- The incumbent president is facing strong criticism over the new law.
- Polls suggest that the incumbent president is slightly ahead of his rival.
- The incumbent president will debate the opposition candidate tonight.