intubate

verb

in·​tu·​bate ˈin-(ˌ)tü-ˌbāt How to pronounce intubate (audio) -(ˌ)tyü- How to pronounce intubate (audio) -tə- How to pronounce intubate (audio)
intubated; intubating; intubates

transitive + intransitive

: to perform intubation on : to subject to intubation
The anesthesiologist resuscitates and intubates—if necessary—newborns in distress.—Joseph J. Neuschatz
… female presented to the ED [emergency department] in a coma 90 minutes after ingesting approximately 8 g of nortriptyline. She was intubated, lavaged, and received activated charcoal.—R. Rasmussen and P. E. McKinney
The trachea was intubated … and 100% oxygen was administered …—Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh et al.
No one, amid the rush to intubate, had thought to prick the patient's finger and check his blood glucose level …—Tony Dajer

Examples of intubate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two people trying to intubate the same patient is just as dangerous as no one intubating at all. — Paula Ferrada, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The boy was intubated and is currently in critical but stable condition, per the court documents. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 The boy was given Narcan at the hospital and intubated, authorities said. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Clancy was breathing on her own but had to be intubated, and could not move her legs. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intubate

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from intubation

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intubate was in 1889

Rhymes for intubate

See All Rhymes for intubate

Browse Nearby Words

in truth
intubate
intubation
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Cite this Entry

“Intubate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intubate. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

intubate

verb
in·​tu·​bate ˈin-(ˌ)t(y)ü-ˌbāt How to pronounce intubate (audio) -tə- How to pronounce intubate (audio)
intubated; intubating; intubates

transitive + intransitive

: to perform intubation on : to subject to intubation
These patients should be intubated regardless of the blood gas results. ABG measurements, however, can assist in the decision to intubate less severely stressed patients.—James W. Holcroft et al., Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery, 13th edition
I'm very nervous, because I haven't intubated many children and I'm not sure how big she is or what size endotracheal tube I'll need.—Valerie Norton, in Emergency!
No one, amid the rush to intubate, had thought to prick the patient's finger and check his blood glucose level …—Tony Dajer, Discover
Twenty consecutive pediatric patients … whose tracheas had been intubated for various causes of respiratory failure, and who had received a CT scan, were included in our study.—Kevin R. Bock et al., Chest
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