verb

lean

LEEN

verb

To bend or tilt away from an upright position, or to rest against something for support.

"She leaned against the wall to catch her breath."

"He leaned the ladder against the house."

To favor or tend toward a particular opinion, choice, or direction.

"The committee is leaning toward approving the proposal."

adjective

Having little or no fat; thin and fit.

"He trained hard to stay lean before the fight."

"Ask the butcher for a leaner cut of beef."

Having very little of something, especially money or resources; scarce.

"It was a lean year for the farm after the drought."

How to Use Lean

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo tilt or rest against something, to favor a side, or (as an adjective) to be thin or scarce.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with the past tense "leant/leaned" — both are accepted, but "leaned" is standard in American English.

Common pairings

lean against lean toward lean meat lean times lean manufacturing

Word Forms

leaner comparative, leaned past tense, leant past tense, leaned past tense, leans plural, leans plural, Leans plural, leans singular, leans singular, leanest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ against the wall to catch her breath.

Etymology

From Old English hlinian, "to lean or recline," from an ancient Germanic root related to the English word "climate" through a shared Indo-European origin meaning "to slope."

Rhymes for lean

bean wean dean jean Sean mean Kean clean glean ocean Korean demean

See all rhymes for lean →