incline

American  

[in-klahyn, in-klahyn, in-klahyn] / ɪnˈklaɪn, ˈɪn klaɪn, ɪnˈklaɪn /

verb (used without object)

inclined, inclining

1. to deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.

   Synonyms:

   pitch, fall, rise, slope, lean

2. to have a mental tendency, preference, etc.; be disposed.

   We incline to rest and relaxation these days.

   Synonyms:

   lean, tend

3. to tend, in a physical sense; approximate.

   The flowers incline toward blue.

   Synonyms:

   veer, verge

4. to tend in character or in course of action.

   a political philosophy that inclines toward the conservative.

   Synonyms:

   veer, verge

5. to lean; bend.

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verb (used with object)

inclined, inclining

1. to dispose (a person) in mind, habit, etc. (usually followed byto ).

   His attitude did not incline me to help him.

2. to bow, nod, or bend (the head, body, etc.).

   He inclined his head in greeting.

3. to cause to lean or bend in a particular direction.

noun

1. an inclined surface; slope; slant.

2. Railroads.

   1. Also called incline plane.  Also called inclined plane.  a cable railroad, the gradient of which is approximately 45°.

   2. any railroad or portion of a railroad, the gradient of which is too steep for ordinary locomotive adhesion alone to be effective.

3. Mining.

   1. an angled shaft following a dipping vein.

   2. an inclined haulageway.

idioms

1. incline one's ear, to listen, especially willingly or favorably.

   to incline one's ear to another's plea.

incline British  

verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant

2. to be disposed or cause to be disposed (towards some attitude or to do something)

   he inclines towards levity

   that does not incline me to think that you are right

3. to bend or lower (part of the body, esp the head), as in a bow or in order to listen

4. to listen favourably (to)

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noun

1. an inclined surface or slope; gradient

2. short for inclined railway

Other Word Forms

• incliner
  noun
• overincline
  verb
• reincline
  verb

Etymology

Origin of incline

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inclinen, from Latin inclīnāre, equivalent to in- in- ² + -clīnāre “to bend” ( see lean ¹); replacing Middle English enclinen, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Explanation

Something that slopes — that is, something that deviates from the straight horizontal or vertical — can be called an incline. If you like to walk up and down hills, you enjoy walking on inclines. The Latin root of the word incline is inclinare, meaning "to lean." As a verb, the word incline can mean to bend, so you incline your head. It can also mean to be favorably disposed toward something and you can think of it as having a bent for or leaning toward something. If the weather is nasty, you may be inclined to stay home to watch a movie with a bowl of popcorn at your side.

Example Sentences

Annie Hamburgen, 28, of Incline Village, Nev., left her marketing job in March to travel in South America.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025

Incline Village lies just over the California border in Nevada.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2023

The Incline Village, Nevada-based company builds homes in California, Arizona, Texas and seven other states.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2023

Gayle Brandeis, who lives in Incline Village, Nev., is the author of the memoir “The Art of Misdiagnosis.”

From New York Times • Oct. 1, 2021

Incline Thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• bend
• impel
• persuade
• predispose
• prompt
• sway