inclination

[ in-kluh-ney-shuhn ]

/ ˌɪn kləˈneɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inclination ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a disposition or bent, especially of the mind or will; a liking or preference: Much against his inclination, he was forced to resign.

something to which one is inclined: In sports his inclination is tennis.

the act of inclining; state of being inclined.

a tendency toward a certain condition, action, etc.: the door's inclination to stick.

deviation or amount of deviation from a normal, especially horizontal or vertical, direction or position.

an inclined surface.

Geometry.

the angle between two lines or two planes.
the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line.

Astronomy.

the angle between the orbital plane of a planet and another given plane, usually the ecliptic.
the angle between the equatorial and orbital planes of a planet.

Magnetism. dip¹(def 32).

Nearby words

incivility, incl., inclasp, inclement, inclinable, inclination, inclinatory, incline, inclined, inclined plane, inclined railway

Origin of inclination

1350–1400; Middle English inclinacioun < Latin inclīnātiōn- (stem of inclīnātiō), equivalent to inclīnāt(us) past participle of inclīnāre (see incline, -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR inclination

1 leaning, tendency; propensity, proclivity, predilection, predisposition, penchant.

5, 6 slope, slant, rise, fall, grade, pitch.

6 ramp.

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ANTONYMS FOR inclination

1 dislike.

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Related forms

in·cli·na·tion·al, adjectivenon·in·cli·na·tion, nounnon·in·cli·na·tion·al, adjectiveo·ver·in·cli·na·tion, noun

su·per·in·cli·na·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inclination

After all, almost everyone with the inclination to vote will show up at a polling place.
Did a Flawed Computer Model Sabotage the Democrats?|Ben Jacobs|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.
Catholic University’s Harvey Milk Ban Reflects A Church In Transition|Jay Michaelson|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is the inclination to respond this complaint on legal grounds.
Sleeping Yankees Fan Files Worst Lawsuit Ever|Ben Jacobs|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The inclination of the human heart is evil from youth,” the Yahwist explains.
The Backstory of ‘Noah’ Is Full of Giants, Horny Angels, and a Grieving God|Tim Townsend|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“To get up and soothe is not my inclination,” says a defiant Romney.
Inside ‘Mitt,’ Netflix’s All-Access Mitt Romney Documentary|Marlow Stern|January 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Breakfast over, each individual disposes of himself as best accords with inclination or interest.
Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure.|John S. Springer
We have not time or inclination to indulge in fanciful troubles until we have got rid of our real misfortunes.
Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow|Jerome K. Jerome
With plenty of food and perfect safety, he lost all inclination to be shot.
History of the Zulu War|A. Wilmot
In some cases, the heart is no safe monitor; and inclination and conviction become convertible terms.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 368, June 1846|Various
Quite aware of his inclination to laxness, I was yet unprepared for his present state.
Ruggles of Red Gap|Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for inclination

inclination

/ (ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃən) /

noun

(often foll by for, to, towards, or an infinitive) a particular disposition, esp a liking or preference; tendencyI've no inclination for such dull work

the degree of deviation from a particular plane, esp a horizontal or vertical plane

a sloping or slanting surface; incline

the act of inclining or the state of being inclined

the act of bowing or nodding the head

maths

the angle between a line on a graph and the positive limb of the x- axis
the smaller dihedral angle between one plane and another

astronomy the angle between the plane of the orbit of a planet or comet and another plane, usually that of the ecliptic

physics another name for dip (def. 28)

Derived Forms

inclinational, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for inclination

inclination

[ ĭn′klə-nā′shən ]

n.

A deviation or the degree of deviation from the horizontal or vertical; a slant.

The deviation of the long axis of a tooth from perpendicular.

A tendency toward a certain condition or character.

A characteristic disposition to do, prefer, or favor one thing rather than another; a propensity.

Science definitions for inclination

inclination

[ ĭn′klə-nā′shən ]

A deviation or the degree of deviation from the horizontal or vertical.