incline

[ verb in-klahyn; noun in-klahyn, in-klahyn ]

See synonyms for: incline inclined inclining on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),in·clined, in·clin·ing.

to deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.
to have a mental tendency, preference, etc.; be disposed: We incline to rest and relaxation these days.

to tend, in a physical sense; approximate: The flowers incline toward blue.
to tend in character or in course of action: a political philosophy that inclines toward the conservative.
to lean; bend.

verb (used with object),in·clined, in·clin·ing.

to dispose (a person) in mind, habit, etc. (usually followed by to): His attitude did not incline me to help him.
to bow, nod, or bend (the head, body, etc.): He inclined his head in greeting.

to cause to lean or bend in a particular direction.

noun

an inclined surface; slope; slant.
Railroads.
- Also called inclined plane, incline plane . a cable railroad, the gradient of which is approximately 45°.
- any railroad or portion of a railroad, the gradient of which is too steep for ordinary locomotive adhesion alone to be effective.

Mining.
- an angled shaft following a dipping vein.
- an inclined haulageway.

Idioms about incline

incline one's ear, to listen, especially willingly or favorably: to incline one's ear to another's plea.

Origin of incline

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inclinen, from Latin inclīnāre, equivalent to in-in-² + -clīnāre “to bend” (see lean¹); replacing Middle English enclinen, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Other words for incline

1	lean, slope, rise, fall, pitch
2	tend, lean
3, 4	verge, veer

See synonyms for incline on Thesaurus.com

Other words from incline

in·clin·er, noun
o·ver·in·cline, verb, o·ver·in·clined, o·ver·in·clin·ing.
re·in·cline, verb, re·in·clined, re·in·clin·ing.

Words Nearby incline

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

How to use incline in a sentence

Just remember that even though the trails breeze downhill, you have to hoof back up that same incline.
The Ultimate Yosemite National Park Travel Guide | Shawnté Salabert | February 22, 2021 | Outside Online
It’s somewhere near the middle of the pack when it comes to tests per 100,000 people, but you can see a steep incline over the past few months.
5 graphs that show how bad COVID-19 is in LA County | Sara Chodosh | January 26, 2021 | Popular-Science
A motorized stand in the back of the bike adjusts the incline or decline, which I didn’t find particularly useful.
NordicTrack’s connected workout bike puts the focus on competing against yourself | Stan Horaczek | October 15, 2020 | Popular-Science
It became my companion as I struggled up a solitary mountain incline between the Pennsylvania towns of Bedford and Greensburg.
How Biking Across America Formed an Unlikely Friendship | Raffi Joe Wartanian | October 8, 2020 | Outside Online
It tackles inclines steeper than the toughest treadmill setting.
Methanol fuel gives this tiny beetle bot the freedom to roam | Carmen Drahl | August 19, 2020 | Science News

Unnervingly, several Turkish tanks in a 30-strong formation on the side of an incline have their guns pointing into Turkey.
Turkish President Kisses Off Kurds Under Siege By ISIS | Jamie Dettmer | October 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Anyway, this spot on Water Street where the café stood was on a marked incline more than two blocks from the water below.
New York’s Oldest Bar Stays Afloat | Michael Daly | October 29, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The text: “…as I tackled the relentlessly unforgiving incline of the most famous downhill ski course in the world.”
Text And Sub-Text: Breaking The Secret Pippa Code | Tom Sykes | October 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
A very sharp incline in the 1990s, peaking at about 5,000 in March 2000, then a sharp decline before a steady incline.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Finally Out After a 13-Year Reign | Daniel Gross | August 23, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Instead, try Hollywood Road for gorgeous local treasures and even a tasteful Mao head if you so incline.
Gal With a Suitcase | Jolie Hunt | January 16, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
The trains were pulled up the incline at the Lickey by powerful stationary engines.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
Here, on the incline leading across Butser Hill, may be noticed the beginning of these things.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries | Charles G. Harper
A little or superficial knowledge may incline a man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth him back to religion.
Gospel Philosophy | J. H. Ward
O Holy Maries, who can change our tears to blossoms, incline quickly an ear unto my grief!
Frdric Mistral | Charles Alfred Downer
He brought neither his wife nor children to incline the judges in his favor by their sighs and tears.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I | John Lord

British Dictionary definitions for incline

incline

verb(ɪnˈklaɪn)

to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant
(when tr, may take an infinitive) 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

to bend or lower (part of the body, esp the head), as in a bow or in order to listen
incline one's ear to listen favourably (to)

noun(ˈɪnklaɪn, ɪnˈklaɪn)

an inclined surface or slope; gradient
short for inclined railway

Origin of incline

C13: from Latin inclīnāre to cause to lean, from clīnāre to bend; see lean 1

Derived forms of incline

incliner, noun

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

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