incline
Having a feeling that you want to do something, or that something is probably true, but not very strongly.
Having a tendency, willingness, or slight desire to do something, often used in the pattern ‘be inclined to [verb]’.
To move in your mind toward one idea or plan more than others.
To have or show a tendency to favor a particular opinion, feeling, or course of action.
To move so that you or something is not straight up or flat, but at an angle; or to move something into that position.
To lean, bend, or slope, or to make part of the body or an object lean, bend, or slope from an upright or flat position.
A part of the ground, road, or another surface that goes up, not flat.
A surface of ground, road, or another structure that rises or slopes upward from a lower level.
To affect someone so that they want to do something or believe something more than before.
To influence someone’s feelings, thoughts, or behavior so that they are more likely to do or believe something.
- Base: incline
- Plural: inclines
- Base: incline
- 3rd Person Singular: inclines
- Present Participle: inclining
- Past: inclined
be inclined to [noun/adjective]
1have a tendency or interest
To have a natural interest in, or connection with, a type of thing, or to show a certain quality.
- He’s artistically inclined and spends hours drawing.
- She’s not technically inclined, so she avoids fixing devices herself.
- Many students are more theoretically inclined than practically inclined.
be inclined to [verb]
1tend or be willing to do something
To often do something, or to want to do it, but not very strongly; used with another verb after 'to'.
- I’m inclined to agree with you about the budget cuts.
- People are often inclined to blame others instead of themselves.
- After hearing his story, I’m inclined to give him another chance.
feel inclined to [verb]
1have a slight desire to do something
To want to do something a little, but not strongly; often used for polite or hesitant decisions.
- I don’t feel inclined to go out tonight.
- If you feel inclined to help, please let us know.
- No one felt inclined to cook after the long meeting.
incline to the view that
1tend toward a particular belief
To be more ready to believe one explanation or opinion than others; used in careful or formal speech and writing.
- I incline to the view that the report is incomplete.
- Many historians now incline to the view that the war could have been avoided.
incline toward [something]
1tend toward an option or view
To prefer or choose one thing, idea, or side more than another, especially in careful thinking or discussion.
- Given the risks, I incline toward a more conservative investment.
- Judges generally incline toward leniency in first-offense cases.
- Public opinion appears to incline toward change.
inclined plane
1sloping surface used as a simple machine
In physics, a flat surface that is at an angle and is used to move something heavy up or down more easily, like a ramp.
- In science class we learned how an inclined plane reduces the force needed to lift an object.
- A ramp is a common example of an inclined plane.
on an incline
1on a sloping surface
On ground, a road, or another surface that goes up and is not flat.
- Parking on an incline requires you to use the handbrake.
- Running on an incline is harder than running on a flat surface.