lean on

verb

leaned on; leaning on; leans on

transitive verb

: to apply pressure to
They were leaning on the governor to pass the law.

Examples of lean on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Collins has leaned on his tenure in Congress. Shannon McCaffrey, AJC.com, 10 June 2026 Instead, Golden State leaned on the steady hands of Williams and Burton, who repeatedly delivered on both ends when the Mercury threatened to seize momentum. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 June 2026 The approach leans on natural scent sources first — think plants, fresh herbs and citrus peels — and treats ventilation itself as a fragrance tool. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026 Adraee wants his videos to go viral, leaning on the casual nature of social media to get his message across. Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lean on

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lean on was circa 1960

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Cite this Entry

“Lean on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lean%20on. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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