This is the first definition for inciting incident that google pulls up:

The inciting incident is an episode, plot point or event that hooks the reader into the story. This particular moment is when an event thrusts the protagonist into the main action of the story.

This is why so many writer's are confused about story events. How many story events "hook" the reader? How many story events "thrusts the protagonist into the main action?" How is a writer supposed to determine if the story event they came up with is actually a satisfying inciting incident from the wording used in this definition?

I've grown increasingly unsatisfied with the traditional definitions for story structure events. This has lead me to creating my own definitions for story structure events that use more precise language. I need to update my definition with the sentiment expressed here -the inciting incident should occur as early as possible to avoid exposition. A story that delivers the Inciting incident as soon as feasibly possible, is one that engages the reader.