- present participle of lean.
leaning
Americannoun
-
leanings
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of leaning
First recorded before 1000; Middle English leninge, Old English hlining; lean 1 + -ing 1
Vocabulary lists containing leaning
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
More Americans are leaning on flexible payment options as persistent inflation has made it difficult for households to afford basic necessities.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
The younger Bush was different, leaning into his sun-baked upbringing while keeping one boot firmly back East.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
His presence now means leaning more often into classic punk rock.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Now, like getting an old band back together, Ram is leaning unapologetically into V-8-powered machismo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
He stood below, handing them up to us while leaning on a chair, and gave me money to go and buy the biscuits and sweets he usually lavished on us at Christmas.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Barrera heads the school board of San Diego Unified, the state’s second largest school district, serving an area with liberal leanings, but that is also politically diverse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
But on the other hand, the genre’s somber leanings afford him a tender space for sharing the brand of wisdom that only comes with age.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026
Stratton, who stressed her progressive leanings throughout the campaign, defeated two of the state’s congressional representatives, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, and was declared the victor by the Associated Press.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
In reality, if you watch Herrera’s content, there’s no indication he’s sincere in his Nazi leanings.
From Slate ● Mar. 9, 2026
“They would have alerted you, but we gleaned them,” one of the other scythes said—a woman in green with PanAsian leanings.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
