# lean

> English word · Verb · IPA /liːn/ · frequency rank #5,705

## Definitions
1. To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
2. To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; often with to, toward, etc.
3. To rest or rely, for support, comfort, to use as a hard surface for writing, etc.
4. To hang outwards.
5. To press against.

## Etymology
From Middle English lenen (“to lean”), from Old English hleonian, hlinian (“to lean, recline, lie down, rest”), from Proto-West Germanic *hlinēn, from Proto-Germanic *hlināną (“to lean, incline”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-.
Cognate via Proto-Germanic with Middle Dutch leunen (“to lean”), German lehnen (“to lean”); via Proto-Indo-European with climate, cline.

## Easily confused with
- **LN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-ln)
- **let** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-let)
- **LED** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-led)
- **lee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lee)
- **leg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-leg)
- **leo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-leo)
- **les** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-les)
- **lin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lin)
- **lex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lex)
- **Len** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-len)
- **Lew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lew)
- **lei** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lei)
- **lev** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lev)
- **Lon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lon)
- **lyn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lyn)
- **ley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-ley)
- **loa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-loa)
- **LEM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lem)
- **Lua** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lua)
- **lun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lean-vs-lun)

## Common misspellings (3)
`elan`, `leann`, `llean`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lean