incipient

IPA/ɪnˈsɪpiənt/
KK[ˌɪnsˈɪpiənt]IPA/ɪnˈsɪpiənt/

incipient — adjective

  • incipientpositive
  • more incipientcomparative
  • most incipientsuperlative

1. only just starting to appear or develop, and not yet clearly established.

1.形容詞C1
釋義

only just starting to appear or develop, and not yet clearly established.

例句

Dentists found incipient tooth decay during Sumin's school checkup.

collocation: incipient tooth decay

After the quake, engineers watched the wall for incipient cracks.

pattern: for + incipient noun

同義詞
  • emerging

    More common and slightly broader; it can describe people, trends, or markets becoming noticeable.

  • developing

    Stresses an ongoing process of growth or change, not just the first sign.

  • nascent

    Very close in meaning but often sounds more academic or technical than 'incipient'.

反義詞
  • established

    Describes something already firmly formed or widely recognized.

  • mature

    Suggests full development rather than an early stage.

  • full-blown

    Highlights that the condition or problem is already obvious and complete.

文法句型

incipient + noun

用法筆記

Usually placed before a noun, especially with words for disease, conflict, damage, or other problems that have only begun to show. It is more formal than 'starting' or 'early' and often suggests that the first signs are visible but still limited.

常見錯誤

❌The city faced an incipient housing crisis for ten years.
✅The city faced a long-running housing crisis for ten years.
💡'incipient' only fits something at the beginning, not a problem that has already lasted a long time.
❌Her cooking is incipient, but she is improving fast.
✅Her cooking is still basic, but she is improving fast.
💡'incipient' describes something that is beginning to appear, not someone's general skill level.