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.
Outside stands a statue of an infirm John Paul II leaning on his papal staff — a reminder of the pontiffs who have been treated here, and of their earthly frailty. — Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026 Aranda is around because of his contract, the odd timing of Baylor’s previous athletic director’s exit, and because its school president leaned on its new AD to give this a chance before making a decision. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026 Trump repeatedly leaned on Thune to kill the filibuster in order to pass it, and other senators wanted Thune to try to force Democrats to pull off a talking filibuster to block the bill. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Expect Carolina to keep leaning on wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who caught 11 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit, and running back Chuba Hubbard, who delivered a season-best performance with 122 rushing yards and two scores. — Neil Nakahodo, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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