INCUMBENT ON

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does incumbent on mean? 

• INCUMBENT ON (adjective)
  The adjective INCUMBENT ON has 1 sense:

1. morally binding or necessary

  Familiarity information: INCUMBENT ON used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INCUMBENT ON (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Morally binding or necessary

Context example:

it is incumbent on me to attend

Similar:

obligatory (morally or legally constraining or binding)

 Context examples 

It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

She did not mean to have her own affections entangled again, and it would be incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Marianne had retreated as much as possible out of sight, to conceal her distress; and Margaret, understanding some part, but not the whole of the case, thought it incumbent on her to be dignified, and therefore took a seat as far from him as she could, and maintained a strict silence.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

With the prospect of spending at least two months at Uppercross, it was highly incumbent on her to clothe her imagination, her memory, and all her ideas in as much of Uppercross as possible.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

As to her younger daughters, she could not take upon her to say—she could not positively answer—but she did not know of any prepossession; her eldest daughter, she must just mention—she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“Well, sir,” cried Mr. Weston, “as I took Miss Taylor away, it is incumbent on me to supply her place, if I can; and I will step to Mrs. Goddard in a moment, if you wish it.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his account, by mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte herself; and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters by the earnestness of her congratulations to Sir William, in which she was readily joined by Jane, and by making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)