inclined

1. 1
   adjective

   Having a tendency, preference, likelihood, or disposition toward something.

   The committee seemed inclined to approve the proposal without much debate.

   Most voters are inclined to support candidates they already trust.

   Similardisposed, likely, willing, apt, prone

   Oppositereluctant, unwilling, disinclined, averse

   Note

   The mental lean, and the sense that usually takes a to-infinitive: inclined to believe, inclined to lose her temper. It is gradable (more inclined, most inclined), and in the first person it softens a claim, since "I am inclined to believe you" commits less than "I believe you." Its near-synonym given to describes habit and takes a noun or -ing form (given to outbursts), so the two rarely swap without rebuilding the sentence.

2. 2
   adjective

   Sloping up or down rather than lying level, so as to form an angle with the horizontal.

   The solar panels were inclined toward the south to catch more sunlight.

   Geologists measured how steeply the rock layers were inclined beneath the ridge.

   Similartilted, angled, sloping, slanted

   Oppositelevel, horizontal

3. 3
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of incline.

   The committee inclined toward caution after reviewing the latest figures.

   By dusk the ground inclined sharply, forcing the hikers to slow their pace.

   Note

   Here the form is a true verb, and its uses follow the verb behind it. Incline can take an object (she inclined her head) or stand alone (the road inclined), so the participle builds perfects with have and passives with be. A passive such as "the panels were inclined southward" can look exactly like the "slanted" adjective. An agent or a by-phrase shows that it is the verb.

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