lean on
verb
leaned on; leaning on; leans on
: 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
Lutzenkirchen also leans on his son’s determination to help children with special needs and to be a great friend and teammate.
—
Doug Turnbull For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AJC.com, 22 Feb. 2026
With less money, higher education institutions have leaned on tuition increases to make up the difference.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Kate, who typically relies on her failsafe Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen archive for the red carpet, has a halo effect on the rest of the fashion, as guests lean on refined pieces suitable for rubbing shoulders with—or at least catching a glimpse of—royalty.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026
Gu leaned on journaling to help her perspective.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lean on
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Doug Turnbull For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AJC.com, 22 Feb. 2026
With less money, higher education institutions have leaned on tuition increases to make up the difference.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Kate, who typically relies on her failsafe Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen archive for the red carpet, has a halo effect on the rest of the fashion, as guests lean on refined pieces suitable for rubbing shoulders with—or at least catching a glimpse of—royalty.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026
Gu leaned on journaling to help her perspective.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lean on
Cite this Entry
“Lean on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lean%20on. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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