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

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inclination ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR inclination

1. dislike.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR inclination ON THESAURUS.COM

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 Formsinclinational, 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