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 Dodgers won the World Series last October by leaning on the bullpen to make up for their lack of starters.
—
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
As well as her friendships, Nicole Kidman is also leaning on her daughters during the difficult time.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 8 Oct. 2025
Over the years, Edition has extended this philosophy beyond its collections by introducing podcasts, short films, print essays and live talks, creating space for dialogue rather than leaning on traditional marketing.
—Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays were leaning on Trey Yesavage to keep the New York Yankees’ bats quiet in Game 2 of the ALDS in just his fourth career big-league start.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lean on
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.
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
As well as her friendships, Nicole Kidman is also leaning on her daughters during the difficult time.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 8 Oct. 2025
Over the years, Edition has extended this philosophy beyond its collections by introducing podcasts, short films, print essays and live talks, creating space for dialogue rather than leaning on traditional marketing.
—Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays were leaning on Trey Yesavage to keep the New York Yankees’ bats quiet in Game 2 of the ALDS in just his fourth career big-league start.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
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 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share