leans 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of lean
1
as in tilts
to set or cause to be at an angle just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it

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2
as in tends
to show a liking or proneness (for something) the family's diet leans toward greasy food

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3

leans

2 of 2

noun

plural of lean
as in inclines
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the wall has enough of a lean that we can't set a bookcase against it

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Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of leans
Verb
This title leans into the horror genre but appeals to fans of spooky stories and adventure. Rob Wieland, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024 Situated on the southern edge of North Carolina’s southernmost hook, which curls around the Neuse River and stretches towards the Atlantic, Beaufort is an historic fishing village that leans into its storied and salty charms. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2024 The university heavily leans into its women engineering base and has one of the largest female engineering student populations in the country. Kori Hale, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 Romy leans back in a chair and drinks him in. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 25 Dec. 2024 The design leans into texture, color, and silhouette to shape the aesthetic, with details like velvet headboards, mosaic tiles, and wall coverings by French design legend Pierre Frey. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024 As society leans further into casual dressing, wearing a black or navy suit with a crisp white shirt can feel almost outdated. Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that do not issue their electoral votes by a winner-takes-all model, and the Congressional district around Omaha leans liberal. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024 Collections Etc Fleece Bed Jacket There’s something powerful about a piece of clothing that’s unabashedly feminine, and this fleece bed jacket leans into that with exaggerated pastel coloring and a slight flare at the waistline. Clint Davis, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans
Verb
  • The provision relies on a court determination that Texas' Senate Bill 4, or another law similar to Proposition 314, gets upheld by the courts.
    Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
  • The tracker relies on radar technology and satellites to keep tabs on Santa, according to NORAD, which notes those methods are the same ones the agency employs to protect skies over North America.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • At its core, this skill depends on self-awareness as the first step in leading with authenticity and empathy.
    William Arruda, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
  • The length of the illness depends on the severity of the ill person's symptoms, but is generally comparable to the flu.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Page counts, while not a precise measure of regulatory burden, do reflect inclinations toward regulatory enthusiams when those are present.
    Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • An overwhelming victory would have fed into Modi’s growing authoritarian inclinations, which were on display this year as the Indian government attacked critics at home and abroad — including in the US.
    Bryan Walsh, Vox, 30 Dec. 2024

Cite this Entry

“Leans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leans. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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