inclined; inclining
1
: to bend the head or body forward : bow
2
: to lean, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion or course of conduct
3
: to deviate from a line, direction, or course
specifically
: to deviate from the vertical or horizontal
1
: to cause to stoop or bow : bend
2
: to have influence on : persuade
his love of books inclined him toward a literary career
3
: to give a bend or slant to
incliner
noun
Synonyms
Examples of incline in a Sentence
Verb
She listened with her eyes closed and her head inclined.
The road inclines at an angle of about 12 degrees.
His love of books inclined him toward a literary career.
Noun
We drove up a steep incline to the summit.
You can adjust the incline of the ramp.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
The villa’s historic grandeur and art may be worthy of a museum—offer the right price, by the way, and the owner may be inclined to leave the artworks, Witzel suggests—but this is a home designed for family life too.
—Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024
Heidrick’s 2024 board monitor data shows a steep incline in the number of diverse directors elected after 2019 that has since leveled off.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incline 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Nor would a committed leftist like Bernstein have been inclined to look for tragic undertones in the Fifth.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
The villa’s historic grandeur and art may be worthy of a museum—offer the right price, by the way, and the owner may be inclined to leave the artworks, Witzel suggests—but this is a home designed for family life too.
—Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
Of course, hormones peak in November, but by late October, testosterone levels are on a sharp incline, nearing the top.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024
Heidrick’s 2024 board monitor data shows a steep incline in the number of diverse directors elected after 2019 that has since leveled off.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incline
Dictionary Entries Near incline
Cite this Entry
“Incline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incline. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incline
1 of 2 verb
in·cline
in-ˈklīn 
inclined; inclining
1
: to bend the head or body forward : bow
2
: to be drawn to an opinion or course of action
inclined to go swimming
4
: to cause to bend, bow, or slant
5
: to have influence on : persuade
my teacher's example inclined me to become a teacher too
inclinable
adjective
in-ˈklī-nə-bəl
incline
2 of 2 noun
in·cline
ˈin-ˌklīn
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share