incline

1 of 2

verb

in·​cline in-ˈklīn 

inclined; inclining

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

incline

2 of 2

noun

in·​cline ˈin-ˌklīn 

: an inclined plane : grade, slope

Synonyms

Verb

• slope
• tilt

Noun

• slope
• inclination

Choose the Right Synonym for incline

incline, bias, dispose, predispose mean to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something.

incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions.

I incline to agree

bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice.

the experience biased him against foreigners

dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something.

her nature disposes her to trust others

predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself.

does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?

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

Verb

For the less athletically inclined, the heated, saltwater infinity pool is pretty much the epitome of il dolce far niente. —Laura Itzkowitz, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025

Viewers inclined to theorize their way to some baroque explanation are naturally going to disbelieve what’s right there in front of them. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025

Noun

However, running or walking at pace at an incline on a treadmill didn't necessarily change how much effort my body was putting into the movement – if heart rate is anything to go by. —New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025

Our bed might not connect to the cloud and remain stuck at an incline. —Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for incline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• canine

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

3

: to turn or move from a line, direction, or course : lean, slope

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

in-ˈklī-nə-bəl

adjective

incline

2 of 2 noun

in·​cline ˈin-ˌklīn 

: slope entry 3 sense 2