lean on

verb

leaned on; leaning on; leans on

transitive verb

: to apply pressure to
They were leaning on the governor to pass the law.

Examples of lean on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Notice that this entire process still leans on AI to catch AI's mistakes. — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The Tar Heels are without defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and are leaning on a journeyman at quarterback to try and spark an offense that was among the worst among Power Four conference teams last season. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Meredith and Madeline leaned on each other to manage the grief of their husbands’ deaths, and the weight of their pregnancies. — Julie Mazziotta, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 Matsui, who has served in Congress since 2005, leaned on her experience and cited a record of delivering resources to the region. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lean on

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lean on was circa 1960

Rhymes for lean on

See All Rhymes for lean on

Browse Nearby Words

leanness
lean on
leant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lean on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lean%20on. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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