lean

leanverb

To lean is to bend your body or put something at an angle, often to rest against something, or to want one choice more than another.

1. of a personbend the top part of your body in one direction, often to rest against something

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • She leaned against the wall to rest. V + adv/prep
   • He leaned forward to hear better. V + adv/prep
   • Don't lean out of the window. V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + preposition lean against, lean on

   verb + adverb lean forward, lean back

2. of an objectput something at an angle so that it rests against something else

   transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • He leaned his bike against the wall. V + obj + prep + obj
   • She leaned the ladder against the house. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition lean something against

3. prefer or tendwant one decision, opinion, or type of thing more than another

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • I'm leaning toward the blue one. V + adv/prep
   • The committee seems to be leaning in favor of the plan. V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + preposition lean toward, lean in favor of

See also against