incline

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

verb (used without object)

, in·clined, in·clin·ing.

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.

verb (used with object)

, in·clined, in·clin·ing.

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

   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 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.

incline

verb

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

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

noun

1. an inclined surface or slope; gradient
2. See inclined railway
   short for inclined railway

Derived Forms

• inˈcliner, noun

Other Words From

• in·cliner noun
• over·in·cline verb overinclined overinclining
• rein·cline verb reinclined reinclining

Word History and Origins

Origin of incline¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of incline¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

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

Example Sentences

Just remember that even though the trails breeze downhill, you have to hoof back up that same incline.

From 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.

From Popular-Science

A motorized stand in the back of the bike adjusts the incline or decline, which I didn’t find particularly useful.

From Popular-Science

It became my companion as I struggled up a solitary mountain incline between the Pennsylvania towns of Bedford and Greensburg.

From Outside Online

It tackles inclines steeper than the toughest treadmill setting.

From Science News

Unnervingly, several Turkish tanks in a 30-strong formation on the side of an incline have their guns pointing into Turkey.

From 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.

From The Daily Beast

The text: “…as I tackled the relentlessly unforgiving incline of the most famous downhill ski course in the world.”

From 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.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, try Hollywood Road for gorgeous local treasures and even a tasteful Mao head if you so incline.

From The Daily Beast

The trains were pulled up the incline at the Lickey by powerful stationary engines.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, on the incline leading across Butser Hill, may be noticed the beginning of these things.

From Project Gutenberg

A little or superficial knowledge may incline a man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth him back to religion.

From Project Gutenberg

O Holy Maries, who can change our tears to blossoms, incline quickly an ear unto my grief!

From Project Gutenberg

He brought neither his wife nor children to incline the judges in his favor by their sighs and tears.

From Project Gutenberg