DictionaryAI

lean

LEEN/liːn/

Verbleans, leaning, leaned

Adjectiveleaner, leanest

15 meanings of lean

Practice

  1. 1
    verbintransitive
    To bend or slope to one side instead of standing straight up.

    Like a flagpole that tips a bit to one side.

    The old gate leans to one side now.

    Tall trees often lean away from strong winds.

    UsageAdd a direction: lean over, lean out, lean to one side.

    Similartilt, slope, slant, incline, list

    Note
  2. 2
    rest for supportverbintransitive
    To rest your weight on something for support, or to depend on someone for help.

    Like resting a ladder against a wall so it holds steady.

    She likes to lean on the railing while watching the boats.

    He leaned against the wall to rest his legs.

    UsageLean against a wall; lean on a friend for help.

    Similarrest, rely, depend

    Note
  3. 3
    favor a sideverbintransitive
    To favor one side, idea, or choice more than another.

    Like a scale that tips slightly toward one side.

    Most voters lean toward the cheaper plan.

    She leans liberal on most social issues.

    UsageSay lean toward something, or lean + a describing word: leans conservative.

    Similarincline, tend, gravitate

    Note
  4. 4
    adjective
    Having only a small amount of fat.

    Like meat with almost all the fat cut away.

    This cut of meat is very lean.

    Skinless chicken breast is a lean food.

    UsageUsed for meat with little fat: lean beef.

    Similarlow-fat

    Oppositefatty, fat

  5. 5
    slim buildadjective
    Thin and not having much fat on the body.

    Like a thin, fast runner with very little extra weight.

    The marathon runner had a lean, athletic body.

    Years of hard work left him lean and strong.

    UsageOften used as a compliment, especially in phrases like lean and muscular.

    Similarslim, slender, slight, svelte, lithe

    Oppositefat, plump, stout, heavy

  6. 6
    efficientadjective
    Run in a simple, careful way that avoids waste.

    Like packing only what you need for a trip, with no extra bags.

    The new boss wants a lean team with no wasted effort.

    They run a lean business and spend very little.

    UsageA company that stays lean wastes little. It is a word of praise.

    Similarefficient, streamlined, frugal, economical

    Oppositewasteful, bloated, inefficient

    Note
  7. 7
    barely enoughadjective
    Being only just enough, with little or nothing extra.

    Like a wallet with almost no money left in it.

    It was a lean year for the small farm.

    The family lived through several lean months.

    UsageOften lean times or lean years: times with little money.

    Similarscarce, sparse, meager, scant, scanty

    Oppositeabundant, plentiful, prosperous, generous

  8. 8
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To push your body or weight against something.

    Like pushing against a door with your shoulder.

    He leaned hard against the heavy door to close it.

    We had to lean hard against the stuck door to open it.

    UsageLean into something, or lean your shoulder against it.

    Similarpress, push, bear

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of lean apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 8–9

From Old English hlinian meaning "to lean or rest," going back to an ancient Proto-Indo-European root.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Meanings 4–7, 11–13

From Old English hlǣne meaning "lean." It may come from a word meaning "to make someone bend," as from hunger, and if so is related to the word for "to lean."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

  • The adjective comes from Old English hlǣne, meaning lean. en.wiktionary.org
  • The proposed source, hlǣnan, means to cause to lean or bend, rather than to make thin. Hunger is the suggested reason for bending. gutenberg.org
  • Under that proposed derivation, the adjective is related to the verb meaning to lean. en.wiktionary.org
Meaning 10

Probably from the verb "to lean," supposedly because drinking it makes a person lean. It may also be short for "gasoline."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts