lean
gb/lˈin/ us/lˈin/
A2
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
To tilt or rest against something
To move your body or another object so it rests against something for support.
Usage pattern:
to lean [part of body/object] against/on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'lean' with 'bend'; 'bend' means to curve your body, while 'lean' involves shifting weight toward something for support.
Synonyms
rest (Implies being supported by something without necessarily tilting.)
|
tilt (Focuses more on the angle of movement rather than physical support.)
Antonyms
stand upright (Opposite in posture; no tilt or support needed.)
Collocations
lean against the wall
|lean on a chair
|lean over the table
|lean toward the door
Themes
daily life
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She leaned against the fence and watched the sunset.
- He leaned on the counter while talking to the cashier.
- The old man leaned heavily on his cane.
- The bike was leaning against the garage wall.
Learner examples
- I lean on the desk when I read.
- He leans against the wall.
- The stick leans on the tree.
- She leans on her hand.
Verb
B1
state
2
To favor or be inclined toward something
To prefer or choose one thing more than another.
Usage pattern:
to lean toward/towards [opinion/action]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical leaning; context usually makes it clear if it's about preference.
Synonyms
incline (Slightly more formal; often used figuratively for opinions.)
|
favor (Directly states preference without implying gradual tendency.)
Antonyms
oppose (Expresses active disagreement rather than preference.)
Collocations
lean towards a decision
|lean in favor of
|lean to the left/right
Themes
opinions
|decision making
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I'm leaning towards accepting the job offer.
- Most voters lean to the left politically.
- She leans in favor of stricter regulations.
- We lean toward using renewable energy sources.
Learner examples
- I lean towards tea, not coffee.
- He leans to the left in politics.
- She leans towards staying home.
- They lean in favor of the plan.
adjective
A2
property
3
Thin, with little fat or bulk
Thin in body, or meat with little fat.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'lean' always means 'thin'; for food it specifically refers to low fat content.
Synonyms
slim (Often implies attractiveness in thinness.)
|
low-fat (Used mainly for food products.)
Antonyms
fatty (Describes food with a lot of fat.)
|
overweight (Describes a person with excess body weight.)
Collocations
lean meat
|lean body
|lean physique
Themes
food
|health
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Chicken breast is a lean source of protein.
- He has a lean, athletic build.
- Choose lean cuts of beef for a healthier meal.
Learner examples
- This is lean meat.
- He is tall and lean.
- We eat lean beef.
- She has a lean body.
adjective
B1
property
4
Lacking money, resources, or productivity
A time when there is not much money, food, or success.
Synonyms
scarce (Emphasizes shortage of resources.)
|
meager (Implies insufficiency and smallness.)
Antonyms
prosperous (Indicates wealth and abundance.)
Collocations
lean years
|lean times
Themes
economy
|business
|finance
|work
Examples
- The company struggled through several lean years before making a profit.
- Farmers faced lean times during the drought.
- In lean periods, we must cut unnecessary spending.
Learner examples
- We had lean years with little money.
- It was a lean time for farmers.
- The store had lean sales last month.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lean
IPA
GB/lˈin/
US/lˈin/
Syllables & stress
lean (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lean)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lean
- Comparative: leaner
- Superlative: leanest
Verb
- Base: lean
- 3rd Person Singular: leans
- Present Participle: leaning
- Past: leaned, leant
- Past Participle: leant
Word family
Forms
leans
verb
leaning
verb
leaned
verb
leant
verb
leaner
adjective
leanest
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular past participle: leant Verb
Expressions
lean in
1/lˈin ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
Actively participate or get involved
To take part fully and with energy in something.
Examples
- When it's your turn, lean in and speak clearly.
- She decided to lean in and take on more responsibility at work.
lean into something
1/lˈin ˈɪntu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
Embrace and engage fully with something difficult or new
To accept and work hard at something that is new or hard.
Examples
- He leaned into his new role as team leader.
- They leaned into the challenge and succeeded.
lean on someone/something
1/lˈin ˈɔn sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
Depend on for help or support
To depend on someone or something for help or support.
Examples
- I had to lean on my friends when I lost my job.
- She leans on her family during difficult times.
lean over backwards
1/lˈin ˈoʊvɚ bˈækwɚdz/
idiom
informal
Make great effort to help someone
To try very hard to help someone or make them happy.
Examples
- The staff leaned over backwards to make us comfortable.
- She leaned over backwards to meet the client's needs.