slant

1 of 2

verb

slanted; slanting; slants

intransitive verb

1
: to take a diagonal course, direction, or path
2
: to turn or incline from a right line or a level : slope

transitive verb

1
: to give an oblique or sloping direction to
2
: to interpret or present in line with a special interest : angle
stories slanted toward youth
especially : to maliciously or dishonestly distort or falsify
slantingly adverb

slant

2 of 2

noun

1
: a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope
2
a
: something that slants
c
: a football running play in which the ballcarrier runs obliquely toward the line of scrimmage
3
a
: a peculiar or personal point of view, attitude, or opinion
b
: a slanting view : glance
slant adjective
slantways adverb
slantwise adverb or adjective
slanty adjective

Examples of slant in a Sentence

Verb The sunlight slanted down through the leaves and branches of the trees. She slanted her hat a little to the right. They deliberately slanted the story to make themselves look good. Noun The computer keyboard is positioned at a slant so that typing is more comfortable for the wrists. He sliced the carrots on a slant.
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.
Verb
It's written in a delicate, slanting cursive and spans the length of her inner forearm, starting just below her wrist and ending near her elbow. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Feb. 2025 Warm sunlight slanted through the windows as the car lolled on to Birch’s on the Lake. Lara Bockenstedt, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Noun
Mack Hollins had a gorgeous touchdown grab; Terry McLaurin took a middle slant to the house; Quinyon Mitchell had superhero hang-time; Patrick Mahomes hit Noah Gray from a collapsing pocket. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 Also, the back of the couch is at a slant, making support pillows essential while laying down. Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slant

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English slenten to fall obliquely, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect slenta to slope, Old Norse sletta to throw carelessly

First Known Use

Verb

1644, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slant was in 1644

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slant. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

slant

1 of 2 verb
1
: to turn or incline from a straight line or a level : slope
2
: to interpret or present according to a special viewpoint

slant

2 of 2 noun
1
: a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope
2
: something that slants
3
: a way of looking at something
get a new slant on the problem
slant adjective
slanty adjective

Medical Definition

slant

noun
: a culture medium solidified obliquely in a tube so as to increase the surface area
a blood-agar slant
compare stab sense 2a

More from Merriam-Webster on slant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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