What does "lean" mean?
To lean, the intransitive verb, describes "a deviation from the perpendicular" (as in, not standing up straight, but resting on something for physical support). Lean accepts both leaned and leant as its past tense and past participial forms.
Besides this, lean is also understood as relying on someone or something for support, as in "he leans on his family for help and guidance." Also, to lean can be understood as having a preference towards something: I'm leaning towards the lasagna over the salmon.
Definition of lean
The Oxford English Dictionary defines lean as "to bend or incline from a vertical position; to rest against something for support." It's used in both physical and figurative contexts, from leaning against walls to relying on others for help.
- The past tense of lean is leaned or leant.
- The past participle of lean is leaned or leant.
Verb forms of 'lean'
Is "lean" a regular or irregular verb?
The verb lean is both regular and irregular. Lean has two accepted forms as its past tense and past participle: leaned and leant. Leant is irregular because it ends in -t, not -ed; whereas leaned clearly adheres to the regular rule of verb conjugation to the past by adding an -ed to the end.
British English or American English: leant vs leaned
Which past tense or past participle is appropriate in the particular case depends on geography. Whichever side of the pond is home is what dictates the correct spelling and orthographic conventions to adopt.
Which past tense form of lean to use depends on where you live. American English, thanks to Noah Webster (of Merriam-Webster's Dictionary), popularized leaned as the standard past tense. UK English, which is the original form, prefers leant. The same is true for other verbs that share the same pattern (i.e., spell, leap, lean, smell, dream and so on).
Sentence examples: lean, leaned, leant
• I lean against the wall when I'm tired.
• She leans on her family for support.
• They lean toward the conservative approach.
• She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
• He leaned over and kissed her.
• Jackie leaned on her parents to buy her a new car for her birthday.
• He leant his face against his hand.
• Terry leant toward the arts rather than the sciences.
• He leant forward and dropped his voice.
• I have leaned on this principle throughout my career.
• She has leant against that wall for support many times.
• They have always leaned toward innovative solutions.
Similar irregular verbs
Synonyms & nearby words
Synonyms for lean
Common phrases with "lean"
Origin of the word lean
c. 1200, from Old English hlinian "to recline, lie down, rest; bend or incline" (Mercian hleonian, Northumbrian hlionian), from Proto-Germanic *hlinen.
Practice: "Lean" conjugations
Please don't ___ out of the window.
He ___ against the wall while waiting for the bus.
She ___ closer to hear what they were saying.
If you ___ too far, you might fall.
They ___ their bikes against the fence before going inside.
FAQs
What are the past tenses of "lean"?
Are both "leaned" and "leant" correct?
Is "lean" a regular or irregular verb?
What's the difference between American and British usage?
Should I be consistent when using "lean"?
Sources
-
"Lean, V. (1)." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, June 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/8172133593.
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