lean, leaned, leant

The past tense of lean is leaned (pronounced leend) or leant (pronounced lent).

Depending on the preposition or adverb used, lean has more than one meaning.

  • Herbert leaned (inclined) his rake against the fence and then leaned (rested) against the old oak tree.
  • The gambler tossed down his cards and leant (tilted) back in his chair.
  • Terry leant toward (was partial to) the arts rather than the sciences.
  • Jackie leaned on (pressured) her parents to buy her a new car for her birthday.

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