lean in

verb

leaned in; leaning in; leans in

intransitive verb

: to persevere in spite of risk or difficulty

Then there's the racial justice crisis and making sure that we are leaning in during this time of recovery and crisis into the very important conversations around diversity and inclusion.

—Laura Fuentes, quoted in Washington (D.C.) Business Journal

Attending college began as a time of "leaning in," because it took courage to attend a large campus without much parental support and no friends attending with me.

—Sue Nokes

Examples of lean in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What once felt clean and fresh can now come across as cold and uninteresting, which is why the designer recommends leaning in the opposite direction to add visual interest and character. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025

Additionally, Kylie says Kyle has also leaned in more. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025

If your baby is born on December 24, why not lean in and name them Eve? —Kara Nesvig, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025

Investors have continued to lean in. —Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lean in

• renin
• carrageenan
• catenin