lean

Formsleans, leaning, leaned

Formsleaner, leanest

Pluralleans

1. 1
   verbintransitive

   To slope, tilt, or bend away from an upright position, or to stand or project at an angle.

   The old fence posts lean toward the road after years of wind.

   Pisa's famous tower leans noticeably to one side.

   UsageUsually followed by a direction word: lean out of a window, lean over, lean toward the road.

   Similartilt, slope, slant, incline, list

   Note

   The physical sense the verb starts from: Old English hleonian meant to recline, lie down or rest, not only to tilt. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • The verb descends from Old English hleonian/hlinian, whose meanings included reclining, lying down and resting. en.wiktionary.org
2. 2
   rest for supportverbintransitive

   To rest against or on something for support or comfort, or to rely on a person or thing.

   Tired hikers lean against the trees to catch their breath.

   When things get hard, she leans on her closest friends for support.

   UsageUse against or on for physical support (lean against a wall) and on for trust: lean on your friends.

   Similarrest, rely, depend

   Note

   The same frame moves easily from the body to trust, so leaning on someone can mean either. Tennyson's "He lean'd not on his fathers but himself" (1864) is reliance. The coughing patient in W. B. Maxwell's The Mirror and the Lamp (1918), leaning on a stick, is the literal case. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

   • Tennyson wrote the quoted line, which describes Averill's reliance on himself. en.wikisource.org
   • The Tennyson quotation was first published in 1864. en.wikisource.org
   • W. B. Maxwell wrote The Mirror and the Lamp. openlibrary.org
   • The novel describes a coughing patient physically leaning on a stick. en.wiktionary.org
3. 3
   favor a sideverbintransitive

   To tend toward a particular opinion, preference, or way of acting, often expressed with to or toward.

   Younger employees tend to lean toward flexible work arrangements.

   The committee leaned conservative in its final recommendations.

   UsageBefore a noun or -ing, use toward or to: leaning toward voting no. Before an adjective, no preposition: leans conservative.

   Similarincline, tend, gravitate

   Note

   Here the tilt is of the mind. The prepositional pattern is old. Edmund Spenser's A View of the Present State of Ireland, written in 1596 and first printed in 1633, describes people who "delight rather to lean to their old Customs."

4. 4
   adjective

   Containing little fat; having only a small proportion of fatty tissue.

   Nutritionists often recommend lean cuts of beef.

   The diet focuses on lean proteins and fresh vegetables.

   UsageMostly with meat and food: lean beef, lean protein. The opposite is fatty.

   Similarlow-fat

   Oppositefatty, fat

5. 5
   slim buildadjective

   Slim and without much flesh; having a thin, spare build.

   Her lean frame made her look taller than she was.

   The dancers were all remarkably lean and supple.

   UsageUsually admiring, suggesting fitness: a lean, muscular build. Skinny can sound less positive.

   Similarslim, slender, slight, svelte, lithe

   Oppositefat, plump, stout, heavy

6. 6
   efficientadjective

   Efficient and frugal, with little waste; relating to the streamlined methods of lean manufacturing.

   The startup stayed lean, avoiding unnecessary hires.

   Managers adopted lean practices to cut waste on the factory floor.

   UsageCommon phrases: stay lean, lean and mean, lean manufacturing. It usually signals approval.

   Similarefficient, streamlined, frugal, economical

   Oppositewasteful, bloated, inefficient

   Note

   In management this names a method with its own vocabulary: lean manufacturing, lean management, a lean and agile enterprise. Specialists use it to grade practices, not just to praise thrift. Richard J. Schonberger's Best Practices in Lean Six Sigma Process Improvement (2007) calls one kind of kitting lean and another unlean. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • Richard J. Schonberger wrote Best Practices in Lean Six Sigma Process Improvement, first published in 2007; Wiley's catalogue specifies December 2007, despite the 2008 copyright date. copenhagencompliance.com
   • Schonberger describes in-plant kitting as unlean and transport kitting as lean. en.wiktionary.org
7. 7
   barely enoughadjective

   Scanty and meager, offering little extra or little to spare.

   Sales were lean during the long winter season.

   After the layoffs, the company faced a lean budget.

   UsageCommon with periods of time and money: lean years, lean times, a lean season.

   Similarscarce, sparse, meager, scant, scanty

   Oppositeabundant, plentiful, prosperous, generous

8. 8
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To press or push against something with one's weight.

   The wrestlers lean into each other, testing their strength.

   She leaned her shoulder against the stuck gate.

   UsageLean into means push toward something with your weight; with an object, lean your shoulder against it.

   Similarpress, push, bear

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