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
The city is leaning on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to require Ford to cover the cost of fully excavating and restoring the site itself.
—
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Rather than relying on clear facts, messaging has increasingly leaned on emotional appeals, including the use of veterans and symbolic imagery designed to pull at residents’ heartstrings.
—Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Needing to give its starters a breather, Texas has leaned on its bench in the second quarter.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
Seton Hall attempted to fight back into the game, trailing Villanova by just three points across the following three quarters combined, but the Wildcats hung onto the early cushion by leaning on their defense down the stretch.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lean on
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Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Rather than relying on clear facts, messaging has increasingly leaned on emotional appeals, including the use of veterans and symbolic imagery designed to pull at residents’ heartstrings.
—Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Needing to give its starters a breather, Texas has leaned on its bench in the second quarter.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026
Seton Hall attempted to fight back into the game, trailing Villanova by just three points across the following three quarters combined, but the Wildcats hung onto the early cushion by leaning on their defense down the stretch.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 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 10 Mar. 2026.
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