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.
About twenty men packed the space, leaning on shoulders and crowding the wall. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026 Keith, who spent many early mornings designing the house and fine-tuning the plans, leaned on skylights to bring in daylight. — David Caraccio updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026 What To Look For When on the hunt for vintage pieces, Schultz leans on a few simple ideas. — Micaela English, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 This is not the marketing plan of a legacy artist content on calling it a day and merely leaning on her deepest core of longtime fans to buy a record. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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