inclination

[ in-kluh-ney-shuhn ]

/ ˌɪn kləˈneɪ ʃən /

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See synonyms for: inclination / inclinations 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).

OTHER WORDS FOR inclination

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

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

6 ramp.

See synonyms for inclination on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR inclination

1 dislike.

See antonyms for inclination on Thesaurus.com

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM inclination

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

Words nearby inclination

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inclination in a sentence

Grading papers, family obligations and serious drinking left him without much inclination to write.
‘The Queen’s Gambit’ is a bestseller, but its author, Walter Tevis, was hardly a one-hit wonder|Michael Dirda|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
Your natural inclination is to look around and absorb the world, not start running and gunning.
Best VR headsets: Bring your entertainment to life|Eric Alt|January 11, 2021|Popular-Science
The goal was to understand what prompts people to switch from a run to a walk or vice-versa, and determine whether our natural inclinations also correspond to the most efficient approach.
Yes, Walking Is Sometimes Faster than Running Uphill|Alex Hutchinson|December 27, 2020|Outside Online
It also varies in its inclination, or the angle at which magnetic field lines intersect with the planet’s surface.
How Sea Turtles Find Their Way - Issue 94: Evolving|Jason G. Goldman|December 16, 2020|Nautilus

They drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round and have shown no inclination to significantly use him as a change-of-pace quarterback, which suggests they had some doubts about Wentz’s future back in April.
What to know from NFL Week 11: Carson Wentz looks lost, and Taysom Hill is just getting started|Adam Kilgore|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
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
The evil inclination is saying in this song, ‘I’m looked at as this bad guy, but you have power, you have control.
The Sisterhood of Bulletproof Stockings: It’s Ladies’ Night for Hasidic Rockers|Emily Shire|September 30, 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
The sailors were all in amazement, and asked me a thousand questions, which I had no inclination to answer.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
Garnache bowed to the lady, who returned his greeting by an inclination of the head, and his keen eyes played briskly over her.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
I desire and am endeavoring to be on my guard respecting matters which concern his inclination and not his reason.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
It was as though he appeared not to know what to do; what he ought to do; his own wish or inclination having no part in it.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
The Americans thereupon turned their guns upon the rebels, who showed an inclination to fight.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

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 of inclination

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

Scientific definitions for inclination

inclination

[ ĭn′klə-nā′shən ]

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

inclination

OTHER WORDS FOR inclination

OPPOSITES FOR inclination

Origin of inclination

OTHER WORDS FROM inclination

Words nearby inclination

Words related to inclination

How to use inclination in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inclination

Derived forms of inclination

Scientific definitions for inclination