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Synonyms

leaning

American  
[lee-ning] / ˈli nɪŋ /

noun

  1. inclination; tendency.

    strong literary leanings.
    Synonyms:
    penchant, bias, proclivity, propensity, bent
leaning British  
/ ˈliːnɪŋ /

noun

  1. a tendency or inclination

"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

Etymology

Origin of leaning

First recorded before 1000; Middle English leninge, Old English hlining; lean 1 + -ing 1

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.

Azizi, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said that Iran's government was leaning on its most devout supporters.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

"I still have this picture before my eyes: a person leaning on a tree, with ski poles next to him, listening to the radio somehow nestled on their chest," she recalls.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

“We’re leaning towards entertainment,” Jacobs says, before a wry smile creeps onto his face.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Despite the elevated risks, Western companies have spent years developing megaprojects in the Gulf and are leaning on them for growth, making it difficult or expensive to change course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Joyce asked, leaning out the window a ways.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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.