Leaned Leaning Lean Liːn I Window Past Back

• i leaned back in my chair.
• the tower is leaning dangerously.
• a man was leaning out of the window.
• a shovel was leaning against the wall.

lean

1. to bend or move from a vertical position
• I leaned back in my chair.
• The tower is leaning dangerously.
• A man was leaning out of the window.
2. to rest on or against something for support
• A shovel was leaning against the wall.
• She walked slowly, leaning on her son's arm.
3. to make something rest against something in a sloping position
• Can I lean my bike against the wall?
4. to make a great effort, especially in order to be helpful or fair
• I've bent over backwards to help him.

Extra Examples

• Britain leans heavily on Europe for trade.
• He leaned back in his chair.
• He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
• He leaned into the open doorway.
• He leaned towards her.
• Kate leaned comfortably against the wall.
• She leaned casually over the railings.
• She leaned forward eagerly to listen to him.
• She leaned her head against his shoulder.
• She leaned precariously out of the window.
• She leaned to one side.
• She was leaning confidentially across the table.
• The old man was leaning heavily on a stick.
• The taxi driver leaned through his window.
• Women and children leaned from the windows of the surrounding tenements.
• A shovel was leaning against the fence.
• She walked slowly, leaning on her son’s arm.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they lean
• he / she / it leans
• past simple leaned
• past participle leaned
• past simple leant
• past participle leant
• -ing form leaning

Word Origin

• verb Old English hleonian, hlinian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leunen and German lehnen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin inclinare and Greek klinein.