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.
Aaron Ashby’s tipping is worth monitoring In trying to disarm the Dodgers’ lineup, the Brewers leaned on their long-standing trust of reliever Aaron Ashby rather than falling into recency bias. Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025 Across age groups, people are leaning on AI for emotional support, companionship and in some cases, romantic connections. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 In previous Fortune coverage of inflation’s long tail, consumers’ coping tactics have included trading down brands, shrinking baskets, delaying car repairs, and leaning on credit cards. Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025 Yet his theory leans on outdated models of deep history. Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 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 20 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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