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lean

/ˈliːn/noun, verb, adjective1 syllable

Lean means: lacking excess flesh.

Synonyms for lean56

noun, as in the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical

verb, as in to incline or bend from a vertical position

tilt, tip, slant, angle

verb, as in have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined

tend, be given, incline, run

verb, as in cause to lean to the side

adjective, as in lacking excess flesh

thin, anorexic, anorectic, cadaverous, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted, deep-eyed, hollow-eyed, sunken-eyed, gangling
and 11 more, gangly, lanky, lank, spindly, rawboned, reedy, reedlike, twiggy, twiglike, scarecrowish, scraggy

adjective, as in containing little excess

adjective, as in not profitable or prosperous

unprofitable

also used for lean

derich, disenrich, blood, mud, purple drank, sizzurp, snot, syrup, lithe, svelte, willowy, gracile, leansome, lithesome, scarce

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of lean

What does lean mean?10

adjective

1

lacking excess flesh“you can't be too rich or too thin”

2

containing little excess“a lean budget”

3

not profitable or prosperous“a lean year”

4

lacking in mineral content or combustible material“lean ore”

noun

1

the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical“the tower had a pronounced tilt”

verb

1

to incline or bend from a vertical position“She leaned over the banister”

2

have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined“She tends to be nervous before her lectures”

3

cause to lean to the side“Erosion listed the old tree”

4

cause to lean or incline“He leaned his rifle against the wall”

5

rely on for support“We can lean on this man”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with lean?50

Show 40 near rhymes

All 50 rhymes for lean, grouped by syllable

Lean in a sentence

  • If you want to avoid cholesterol, eat lean meat with no fat.CK
  • There's wet paint on the walls, so don't lean on anything.marcelostockle
  • The lean-to is far from sturdy, but it will do for storing firewood.Objectivesea
  • Because the foundation was not made right, the house leans to one side.deanoeba
  • A vintage skateboard leans against the wall, covered in dust.Nuel
  • She leaned forward, offering a breathtaking view of her cleavage.Eccles17
  • He leaned against the bedpost, deep in thought.Amastan
  • I leaned forward, eager to catch every word he spoke.Hellerick

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of lean

as a noun

plural
leans

as a verb

past tense
leaned
past participle
leant
present participle
leaning
third-person singular
leans

as a adjective

comparative
leaner
superlative
leanest