B2verb · intransitive · common

lean

lean · leans · leaned / leant · leaning

опиратися, спиратися, схилятися, нахилятися

наклониться, наклоняться, опираться, опереться

lehnen, sich lehnen, anlehnen

To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical positionTo incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.

ⓘ

/ˈliːn/

» Tom is a guy you can lean on.

Том — хлопець, на якого можно покластися.

Meaning

6 senses

(intransitive)To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
a leaning column
She leaned out of the window.
sich lehnen
наклоня́тьсяnaklonjátʹsja, наклони́тьсяnaklonítʹsja
to incline or bend from a vertical position
(copulative)To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; often with to, toward, etc.
I’m leaning towards voting Conservative in the next election.
The Hispanic vote leans Democratic.
To rest or rely, for support, comfort, to use as a hard surface for writing, etc.
опира́тьсяopirátʹsja, опере́тьсяoperétʹsja
rely on for support
To hang outwards.
lehnen
наклоня́тьсяnaklonjátʹsja, наклони́тьсяnaklonítʹsja
нахиля́тисяnaxyljátysja, схиля́тисяsxyljátysja
To press against.
lehnen, anlehnen
опира́тьсяopirátʹsja, прислоня́тьсяprislonjátʹsja
спира́тисяspyrátysja, опира́тисяopyrátysja, притуля́тисяprytuljátysja
To thin out (a fuel-air mixture): to reduce the fuel flow into the mixture so that there is more air or oxygen.

Examples

570 sentences

Tom is a guy you can lean on.
Том — хлопець, на якого можно покластися.
CC BY · Tatoeba · CM · B1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
Tom leaned towards Mary.
Том нахилився у бік Мері.
ruТом наклонился к Мэри.
CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
Don't lean against this wall.
Не притуляйся до цієї стіни.
ruНе прислоняйся к этой стене.
deLehn dich nicht an diese Wand!
CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
Tom leaned on his cane.
Том сперся на палицю.
ruТом опёрся на свою палку.
CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
Don't lean against the wall.
Не притуляйся до стіни.
ruНе опирайся на стену.
deLehne dich nicht an die Mauer an!
CC BY · Tatoeba · kebukebu · B1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem

Translations

9 languages

Українська

By meaning 2

to hang outwards:

to press against:

Русский

By meaning 3

to incline:

to rest or rely upon for support:

to press against:

Deutsch

By meaning 3

to incline:

to hang outwards:

to press against:

Origin

From Middle English lenen (“to lean”), from Old English hleonian, hlinian (“to lean, recli

From Middle English lenen (“to lean”), from Old English hleonian, hlinian (“to lean, recline, lie down, rest”), from Proto-West Germanic *hlinēn, from Proto-Germanic *hlināną (“to lean, incline”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-.

From Middle English lene (“lean”), from Old English hlǣne (“lean”), (cognate with Low German leen), perhaps from hlǣnan (“to cause to lean (due to hunger or lack of food)”), from Proto-Germanic *hlainijaną (“to cause to lean”). If so, then related to Old English hlinian, hleonian (“to lean”).

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

leans, leaning, leaned, leaned

Base form	lean · to lean
3rd person singular	leans
Present participle	leaning
Past simple	leaned / leant
Past participle	leaned / leant

regular

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, they	lean
he, she, it	leans

Past simpleLesson

all persons

leaned

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, they	have leaned
he, she, it	has leaned

Future simple (will)Lesson

all persons

will lean

Phrasal verbs

3 phrasal verbs

Synonyms

11 synonyms

derich disenrich

Close in meaning

to incline or bend from a vertical position:tilt tip slant angle
cause to lean to the side:list
have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined:tend be given incline run

Antonyms

1 antonyms

enrichB1

Word family

15 related words

RelatedclimateB1 cline leaner

Derivedforward-leaning lean-back lean in leaning leaning board lean into lean on lean-to lean towards outlean overlean uplean

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle

Collocations

12 patterns

leaning against the
leaning against
leaned forward
was leaning against
leaned over and
leaned out of
leaned over to
leaned forward and
leaned back
leaned on the
leaned back in
can lean on