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.
Contemporary Native art has always leaned on humor. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 Without Collier, the Lynx leaned on Courtney Williams, who contributed 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025 Finance news has generally seen more stability than political news and there appears to be a template that CNBC chiefs are following (build like Bloomberg or The Wall Street Journal with Pro tiers while leaning on strengths and access of live TV). Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025 Popkins already had a plan, asking Straw to lean on that contact skill and swing with more purpose. Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Lean on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lean%20on. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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