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
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.
Romance in Middle America doesn’t need grand gestures — just the right room, the right meal and the kind of ambiance that invites couples to lean in a little closer. Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 6 Feb. 2026 Some will lean in… and others will not. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026 With Vogue Book Club celebrating the upcoming premier of Wuthering Heights, the timing couldn’t feel more right to lean in. Minty Mellon, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026 Boucher wrapped an arm around Westbrook’s shoulder and leaned in, speaking calmly as Westbrook continued to reason with him. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lean in

Word History

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lean in was in 2001

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lean in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lean%20in. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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