inclined; inclining
1
: to bend the head or body forward : bow
2
: to lean, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion or course of conduct
3
: to deviate from a line, direction, or course
specifically
: to deviate from the vertical or horizontal
1
: to cause to stoop or bow : bend
2
: to have influence on : persuade
his love of books inclined him toward a literary career
3
: to give a bend or slant to
incliner
noun
Synonyms
Examples of incline in a Sentence
Verb
She listened with her eyes closed and her head inclined.
The road inclines at an angle of about 12 degrees.
His love of books inclined him toward a literary career.
Noun
We drove up a steep incline to the summit.
You can adjust the incline of the ramp.
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023
Outsiders were inclined to assume that life in the Breeders ruined Kim’s sister.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Artistically inclined as a child, he was introduced to fashion by his mother, a milliner.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2023
Nor would Democrats beholden to wealthy and corporate donors be inclined to fight for such funding.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Best Self-Watering Planters Beginner gardeners who struggle with keeping track of a watering schedule might be inclined to use a self-watering planter to make things a bit easier.
—Janae McKenzie, House Beautiful, 5 Sep. 2023
The charitable or naïve might be inclined to dismiss the significance of these calls for a return to the darkest days of the pandemic as mere curiosities.
—The Editors, National Review, 31 Aug. 2023
You might first be inclined to drizzle it over tomatoes or use it to dress a salad.
—Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
But anyone inclined to spend a very expensive vacation searching for paradise in a frozen wasteland might consider the words of Bucknell University geologist Duane Griffin.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023
Jeff Ficker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023
One common concern parents had was that attempting to downshift back to the lower speed was difficult to achieve, especially if a rider was on an incline.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 24 Aug. 2023
The idea is to walk on a treadmill that is set to an incline of 12.0, at a speed of 3.0 mile per hour, for 30 minutes.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 14 Aug. 2023
Complete 30 minutes of an incline walk, changing the inclines to challenge yourself and learn your limitations.
—Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 29 June 2023
Equipped with the High Output 6.7-liter, the Tremor effortlessly climbed a lumpy rock incline.
—David Beard, Car and Driver, 21 June 2023
Portable wheelchair ramps should not be used in buildings or areas with steep inclines.
—Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 25 Apr. 2023
Even so, years of hiking hadn’t prepared either of us for this trail, which rose up and up at a barbaric pitch, disappearing into the clouds with no turns to temper the incline.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2023
If the incline feels too high, try setting the treadmill at 10 to start.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 14 Aug. 2023
See More
Verb
Mabrey’s parents, Patti and Roy, never had been inclined to sugarcoat advice to their daughter.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023
Outsiders were inclined to assume that life in the Breeders ruined Kim’s sister.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Artistically inclined as a child, he was introduced to fashion by his mother, a milliner.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2023
Nor would Democrats beholden to wealthy and corporate donors be inclined to fight for such funding.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
Best Self-Watering Planters Beginner gardeners who struggle with keeping track of a watering schedule might be inclined to use a self-watering planter to make things a bit easier.
—Janae McKenzie, House Beautiful, 5 Sep. 2023
The charitable or naïve might be inclined to dismiss the significance of these calls for a return to the darkest days of the pandemic as mere curiosities.
—The Editors, National Review, 31 Aug. 2023
You might first be inclined to drizzle it over tomatoes or use it to dress a salad.
—Ann Trieger Kurland, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023
But anyone inclined to spend a very expensive vacation searching for paradise in a frozen wasteland might consider the words of Bucknell University geologist Duane Griffin.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023
Noun
Lost Dog Wash Trail to the Taliesin Overlook This out-and-back hike offers visitors a gradual incline and views of the vast desert and rolling hills.
—Jeff Ficker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023
One common concern parents had was that attempting to downshift back to the lower speed was difficult to achieve, especially if a rider was on an incline.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 24 Aug. 2023
The idea is to walk on a treadmill that is set to an incline of 12.0, at a speed of 3.0 mile per hour, for 30 minutes.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 14 Aug. 2023
Complete 30 minutes of an incline walk, changing the inclines to challenge yourself and learn your limitations.
—Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 29 June 2023
Equipped with the High Output 6.7-liter, the Tremor effortlessly climbed a lumpy rock incline.
—David Beard, Car and Driver, 21 June 2023
Portable wheelchair ramps should not be used in buildings or areas with steep inclines.
—Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 25 Apr. 2023
Even so, years of hiking hadn’t prepared either of us for this trail, which rose up and up at a barbaric pitch, disappearing into the clouds with no turns to temper the incline.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2023
If the incline feels too high, try setting the treadmill at 10 to start.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 14 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French incliner, encliner, from Latin inclinare, from in- + clinare to lean — more at lean
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
1798, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of incline was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near incline
Cite this Entry
“Incline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incline. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
incline
1 of 2 verb
in·cline
in-ˈklīn 
inclined; inclining
1
: to bend the head or body forward : bow
2
: to be drawn to an opinion or course of action
inclined to go swimming
4
: to cause to bend, bow, or slant
5
: to have influence on : persuade
my teacher's example inclined me to become a teacher too
inclinable
adjective
in-ˈklī-nə-bəl
incline
2 of 2 noun
in·cline
ˈin-ˌklīn
More from Merriam-Webster on incline
Nglish: Translation of incline for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of incline for Arabic Speakers
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