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

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

The front bar is perfect for leaning in over a cocktail, watching the kitchen fire up the night, while the back dining room feels quieter, designed for lingering over plates. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Carnahan leaned in, asking her to send him the script. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026

And, quite likely, make viewers lean in to understand why the TV screen looks so different. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lean in

• renin
• carrageenan
• catenin