How to Use lean in a Sentence

lean

1 of 3 verb
Definition of leannext
Synonyms for leannext
  • In the video, Eminem leans over in his seat at one point to chat with Hailie, 28.
    — Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 17 Jan. 2024
  • The opera bills itself as based on the memoir but leans heavily on the film.
    — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023
  • The thief clumsily leans over to pick up boxes that fell from the bag as more fall onto the floor.
    — Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2023
  • This is a good time to ask why that’s missing and lean into learning more.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 May 2023
  • The third, which been uprooted before the fire and leaned against the building, now lay flat in front of the church between the other two.
    — Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 7 July 2023
  • Monét and D’Mile then reworked the production to make the song lean even more into dancehall.
    — Cydney Lee, Billboard, 16 June 2023
  • The song, about the fragility of life, has the singer leaning into late ’90s folk pop with mandolin tones and pedal steel work.
    — Carita Rizzo, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2023
  • Monica leans back slightly and runs her palm along the armrest of her chair.
    — Sierra Greer, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024
  • Chalamet isn’t the first star to lean into an armored look on the red carpet.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2024
  • But not all artists are willing or able to lean into TikTok the way Ms. Trainor has.
    — Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, 24 June 2023
  • The music leans toward Americana, and the talent is top-notch.
    — Jody MacE, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
  • On a trip to Portugal, one writer leans into the trend by lending a hand.
    — Elaine Glusac, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2023
  • And many of our plants leaned into that chin music to less than stellar results.
    — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 7 Apr. 2023
  • Finally, Tracee leans to the side while looking all happy and glowy.
    — Korin Miller, Women's Health, 6 Apr. 2023
  • On the scale of regular to rock star, being stuck in traffic leans hard into the mundane.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
  • The floral blend strays away from softness and leans all the dark and warm, courtesy of bergamot, incense, vanilla and more.
    — ELLE, 1 Aug. 2023
  • It's got some fun parts that lean into the Sam Raimi-est stuff in the original trilogy.
    — Evan Romano, Men's Health, 6 June 2023
  • While the linen blend of these trousers leans heavy on the cotton side, the fabric definitely feels breathable in our testing.
    — Maverick Li, menshealth.com, 6 June 2023
  • In a second snap, the pair upped the ante with their posing, leaning towards one another and pursing their lips.
    — Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 9 July 2023
  • But on top is where the singer leaned into the vampiric (though more Twilight than Dracula).
    — Vogue, 7 Sep. 2023
  • The bolster form of the bed serves as a pillow as well as a sense of security for your dog, who may lay their head or lean against it for more comfort.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2023
  • When winter comes around, avoid leaning into dark, heavy tones, and opt for colors that match the nature of the occasion.
    — Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 15 Aug. 2023
  • Even if Monica was leaning into the fiery Latina trope to get hired, the fact is, every Housewife has to be fiery.
    — Alex Zaragoza, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2024
  • Although the colors lean a bit more on the summer side, pair it with a cute cardigan and boots to easily carry you through the early days of fall.
    — Emma Phelps, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2023
  • These women still take on most of the household duties while leaning into work every day.
    — Whitney Casares, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023
  • The series leans into the glitz, glamour and fashion of the era, when shopping and lunch often included cocktails.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024
  • Weeping figs are named for their slender, leaning branches and dark green downcast leaves.
    — Medgina Saint-Elien, House Beautiful, 7 July 2023
  • This may sound overzealous for a fashion show but, brands have been leaning more toward plus and non-standard-sized models for the runway.
    — Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 8 Dec. 2023
  • Some of our favorite designers are leaning into the cropped moment this spring and well into next fall too.
    — Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
  • Venus leaned forward to get a closer look and opened her mouth in confusion as Serena revealed the cut slice to have yellow sponge.
    — Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2023
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lean

2 of 3 adjective
  • She has a lean, athletic body.
  • The fat content of both the salami and cheese will help far more than lean meat.
    — Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 29 Nov. 2023
  • About a quarter to a third of the weight shed is lean body mass, and most of that is muscle.
    — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2024
  • Set goals, be humble and lean into the fact this is a work in progress.
    — Clare Miller, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
  • Because venison is a lean meat, the chuck does the work of adding more fat and richness to the chili.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2023
  • But that money would also have to stretch through the lean times when there was no work.
    — Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2023
  • All of these plants thrive in full sun, lean soils and hot conditions.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2023
  • The bears eat the most fatty, calorie-dense parts of the fish—like the brain, skin, and roe—and leave the leaner fillets behind.
    — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Aug. 2023
  • Rather than avoiding the feelings of grief, lean into them.
    — Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2023
  • Here are some recipes from our database that put the lean, quick-cooking protein to good use.
    — Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2023
  • Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul.
    — Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023
  • This includes lean proteins and foods rich in fiber and healthy fats, such as salmon and Greek yogurt with berries.
    — Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2023
  • Even with the state’s rightward lean, defeating Beshear won’t be an easy task.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 17 May 2023
  • Tracy Morgan is showing off a lean figure, and in the process, spilling the beans on what’s behind it.
    — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 16 Aug. 2023
  • There have been many lean times throughout his journey.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2023
  • Tender and lean, baby back ribs tend to cost more than other cuts.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2023
  • While the first two lean toward winter styling, the best trench coats for women will serve you all four seasons.
    — Paula Lee, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2023
  • Long lean lines, slim leather jackets, body skimming silk knits.
    — Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2024
  • The sharp shoulders and the long, lean silhouette are sure to garner a ton of compliments on chilly spring days.
    — Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024
  • While some are covered in bulging muscles from top to bottom, others are lanky and lean.
    — Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2023
  • This casserole is made with low-fat cheese, lean turkey bacon, and loads of veggies.
    — Women's Health, 11 July 2023
  • Fatty fish like tuna and salmon are good for two to three months in the freezer, while lean fish like cod and flounder can last up to eight months.
    — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2023
  • When the family fled the Khmer Rouge, this sausage-making kept the family alive during lean times in a Thai refugee camp.
    — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
  • Anatoly was of medium height, lean, and athletic for his age.
    — Oleh Sentsov, The New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2023
  • And if a fat mast year is preceded by a lean year, acorn-wise, there may be fewer predators to begin with.
    — John Kelly, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
  • On the opposite end of the spectrum, white breads, like sandwich bread, lean into soft squishiness.
    — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appétit, 11 Oct. 2023
  • The fall rush around Acadia helps workers survive winter’s lean months.
    — Jack Healy, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2023
  • Pistachios These green machines may help keep you lean.
    — Jill Waldbieser, Men's Health, 5 May 2023
  • Jim decided long ago to ditch the bone-in leg of lamb from our childhood table for the ease, time and predictability of a lean, butterflied lamb leg.
    — Lucinda Scala Quinn, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024
  • Most people eat lean proteins and vegetables for these meals, but choosing a healthy breakfast takes a little bit more careful planning.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
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lean

3 of 3 noun
  • Like every bonafide sailing yacht, Sea Cloud Spirit heels (leans) when the sails are up.
    — Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
  • Just a slight lean to the road-underdog Gamecocks, who might come in with a chip on their shoulders and a coach with a long memory.
    — Joseph Goodman | [email protected], al, 1 Oct. 2020
  • Adjusting the lean of your bodies will vary the angle of entry and help with rocking and thrusting.
    — Jessica Migala, Women's Health, 28 Aug. 2023
  • The content is varied, but with a heavy lean into album reviews.
    — Pcmag Staff, PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2023
  • The lean toward Latin for Mendes follows one of his Cabello collabs.
    — Eric Frankenberg, Billboard, 2 Sep. 2021
  • The harshness of any pushback depends on the gravity of the issue–and how the undecided lean.
    — Richard Torrenzano, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2022
  • This leaves the relationship in a place of strain but not strife – with a lean towards more significant gaps in the future.
    — Ryan Bohl, Time, 4 Aug. 2023
  • Victoria Spagnola used a slight lean at the finish line to win the 300-meter hurdles.
    — Bob Narang, chicagotribune.com, 14 June 2021
  • The early enroll list includes all of its five top-100 recruits, all but one of its in-state commits and a heavy lean toward its defensive players.
    — Stephen Means, cleveland, 10 Jan. 2022
  • Uranus likely got its dramatic lean after the planet was whacked with a massive rocky object a few billion years ago.
    — Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2022
  • But Jones' massive spending advantage may not be enough to overcome the state’s partisan lean.
    — al, 2 Nov. 2020
  • Only two of 33 Senate districts would have a partisan lean of under 5 points.
    — Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2021
  • The rocket then flew to an altitude of about 10 kilometers (around 6 miles) before turning its engines back on and settling on the landing pad with a slight lean.
    — Justin Bachman, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2021
  • Though the map’s partisan lean didn’t change, the number of competitive House seats diminished.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2022
  • He’s long been an OSU lean but wanted to wait until after winning a state title to go into decision mode.
    — Stephen Means, cleveland, 2 Dec. 2021
  • Standard twin-tube dampers do a commendable job in corners, allowing just a bit of lean without feeling wishy-washy.
    — Andrew Krok, Car and Driver, 6 Sep. 2023
  • Economy class seats are so small that even a little bit of lean can eliminate the ability to work on a laptop computer.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
  • The political lean of the Supreme Court affects many issues that divide America.
    — Joshua Adams, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2020
  • Levesque’s approach to office wear leans towards comfortable classics, subtly infused with a hint of fun.
    — Maia Torres, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2023
  • The Hotline’s 16th annual early top-25 rankings are unlike any in recent years in their leftward lean.
    — oregonlive, 9 Jan. 2023
  • The longtime Michigan lean had been watching his momentum shift towards the Buckeyes for a few weeks before getting on campus, and that visit was the only thing missing.
    — Stephen Means, cleveland, 6 July 2021
  • The area covers parts of the northern Indianapolis ring counties where Republicans boast a partisan lean of 22 points over Democrats.
    — Alisa Wiersema, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2023
  • In some cases, the new maps make re-election harder for incumbents, either by drawing them out of their districts or changing the political lean.
    — Cayla Harris, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Dec. 2021
  • The district covers the northeastern corner of Indiana and has a partisan lean of 34 points, according to FiveThirtyEight.
    — Alisa Wiersema, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2023
  • But not every business has a natural lean toward social causes, so how can leaders find a way to make their brand truly stand for something bigger?
    — Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2021
  • To be able to spin his entire body around on just the tips of his toes while simultaneously mimicking the protruded lean of someone about to fall off a cliff his calf muscles have to support a lot of the movements.
    — Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 11 July 2022
  • Matthew Isbell, a Democratic data consultant, said redistricting shifted the seat from having a slight lean to Democrats into more of a straight toss-up.
    — Tristan Wood, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2022
  • The new map swells the white population to about 62 percent of eligible voters, while also flipping the political lean to give Trump a 16-point margin over Biden.
    — Cayla Harris, Chron, 28 Jan. 2022
  • Smith said Oregon State changed its look throughout the game, with a lean toward dropping defenders into coverage rather than rushing the quarterback.
    — oregonlive, 9 Nov. 2020
  • The partisan lean of these six seats reflects the increasingly partisan makeup of those six underlying regions of the state.
    — Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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