1
as in tilts
to set or cause to be at an angle
just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inclines
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
the wall has enough of a lean that we can't set a bookcase against it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leans
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
Also within Studio 724 is Mix Bar, which also leans into this music theme with cocktails with names such as Synth and Hi-Fi.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
For its new arrivals, the brand once again leans into that strength, offering a mix of summer staples, office tailoring, and vacation pieces that will take your wardrobe from now through the warmest months and into the early days of fall.
—Irina Grechko, Vogue, 18 June 2026
The Highland Base restaurant serves up food all year, but the summer menu is admittedly more exciting than the winter version, which leans heavily on soups and Arctic char.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
Christiansted’s arcades and butter‑yellow warehouses set a historic tone, while Frederiksted leans more Creole with gingerbread trim and wide verandas.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
Beloved actor Ron Perlman fully leans into trying to make the contestants fail this task by forcing eye contact, asking them polite questions, rebuking their bad manners in ignoring him, and even doggedly getting into their personal space.
—Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
During that time, the former couple presumably learned a thing or two about each other, like the hyper-confessional style of writing Allen leans toward in her music.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2026
The episode met with an enthusiastic response from the Taormina audience with squeals of disgust when Aemond seemingly leans into kiss his mother on the lips; as well as cheers, shocked screams and collective gasps as characters fought to the death, sometimes triumphing and sometimes not.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 June 2026
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Inspired by Japanese listening bars, the cocktail menu leans into drinks made with iichiko (the highest grade of shochu, a barley liquor), Japanese whisky, and peppery shiso.
—Tanya Edwards, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
The scoop-neck cut leans into the minimalist 90s aesthetic and allows this piece to double as a bodysuit when worn under linen pants or silk shorts.
—Cassie Gill, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Designed by London studio Interiors With Art, the aesthetic leans into understated Art Deco touches; sycamore wood panelling, Murano glass lighting, brushed gold accents, and a palette inspired by nearby Hyde Park in autumn.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Case in point is the Koala Bear, which embraces the roots of the small living movement and leans into its strength as a portable home for one or two modern nomads.
—Adam Williams
may 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026
The company’s public framing leans so heavily on markets as an early proving ground.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Musically, Middle of Nowhere leans into traditions shaped in small-town Texas dancehalls (pedal steel, Norteño accordion and other border-blurring textures) but rarely plays it straight.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 May 2026
If home aesthetic leans minimalistic, this simple, soft quilt set may be your perfect bedding match.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
The category leans into intimacy and warmth rather than the breezy, aquatic feel that defined summer scents in past years, putting the wearer’s skin at the center of the fragrance experience.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
Also within Studio 724 is Mix Bar, which also leans into this music theme with cocktails with names such as Synth and Hi-Fi.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
For its new arrivals, the brand once again leans into that strength, offering a mix of summer staples, office tailoring, and vacation pieces that will take your wardrobe from now through the warmest months and into the early days of fall.
—Irina Grechko, Vogue, 18 June 2026
The Highland Base restaurant serves up food all year, but the summer menu is admittedly more exciting than the winter version, which leans heavily on soups and Arctic char.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
Christiansted’s arcades and butter‑yellow warehouses set a historic tone, while Frederiksted leans more Creole with gingerbread trim and wide verandas.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
Beloved actor Ron Perlman fully leans into trying to make the contestants fail this task by forcing eye contact, asking them polite questions, rebuking their bad manners in ignoring him, and even doggedly getting into their personal space.
—Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
During that time, the former couple presumably learned a thing or two about each other, like the hyper-confessional style of writing Allen leans toward in her music.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2026
The episode met with an enthusiastic response from the Taormina audience with squeals of disgust when Aemond seemingly leans into kiss his mother on the lips; as well as cheers, shocked screams and collective gasps as characters fought to the death, sometimes triumphing and sometimes not.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 June 2026
Noun
From the cozy Kringle Kitchen room to the rustic Country Christmas displays, each section caters to a different decorating style, whether your aesthetic leans classic, whimsical, or over-the-top festive.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Inspired by Japanese listening bars, the cocktail menu leans into drinks made with iichiko (the highest grade of shochu, a barley liquor), Japanese whisky, and peppery shiso.
—Tanya Edwards, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
The scoop-neck cut leans into the minimalist 90s aesthetic and allows this piece to double as a bodysuit when worn under linen pants or silk shorts.
—Cassie Gill, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Designed by London studio Interiors With Art, the aesthetic leans into understated Art Deco touches; sycamore wood panelling, Murano glass lighting, brushed gold accents, and a palette inspired by nearby Hyde Park in autumn.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Case in point is the Koala Bear, which embraces the roots of the small living movement and leans into its strength as a portable home for one or two modern nomads.
—Adam Williams
may 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026
The company’s public framing leans so heavily on markets as an early proving ground.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Musically, Middle of Nowhere leans into traditions shaped in small-town Texas dancehalls (pedal steel, Norteño accordion and other border-blurring textures) but rarely plays it straight.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 May 2026
If home aesthetic leans minimalistic, this simple, soft quilt set may be your perfect bedding match.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans
Verb
-
So instead of rotating with its axis straight up and down, the Earth tilts slightly to one side.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
When that income stream is smaller, less secure, or more burdened by caregiving obligations, the optimal portfolio tilts toward safety.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Rosie Ramirez, chief marketing officer at Galaxy Theatres, said a young first-wave audience tends to generate buzz.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Much of his business relies on workers from India, which is home to 73% of H-1B visa holders, according to 2023 numbers from the Pew Research Center.—
Shanelle Kaul,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
To operate independently, the robot relies on an advanced perception system.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
According to the project team, Pemba walked independently on sections of terrain with inclines of less than 30 degrees.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
-
This two-lane highway runs parallel to the Rio Grande and is filled with mountain views, steep inclines, and dramatic switchbacks.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
One of my favorite choices is developing a dry creek bed that slopes away from a home's foundation.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
-
Safer travel can be found on lower-angle terrain, generally slopes less than 30 degrees, particularly in areas sheltered from the wind.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But getting Canada to sell medications to Colorado depends on supply.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
That translation also depends on practical supply chain experience, including familiarity with how operational decisions are made, where implementation challenges can arise, and how model outputs are communicated across operations and finance teams.—
Karen Koehler,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
There were inclinations to not fully believe in their capabilities against Argentina.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
-
Born to a humble family in the twilight years of the shogunate, Higuchi Natsuko (as she was born) was the fourth child and second daughter of a man with scholarly inclinations, who as a farmer had come to the capital to seek both fortune and rank.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leans. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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