How to Use lean on in a Sentence

lean on

verb
  • All while Bogart leaned on his friends in the mob to help tip the scales.
    Ted Brown, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2023
  • The baseball piece of it is something the Sox, and Turner, will lean on.
    Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Feb. 2023
  • Carlisle leaned on his second team again in the third quarter, when the Bucks went up by 10 points.
    Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Jan. 2024
  • Up ahead, men in khaki shorts and polo shirts leaned on golf clubs around the 12th hole.
    Alexia Fernández Campbell, Essence, 4 July 2024
  • That's where critics say the state could lean on the legislation and halt the project.
    Susan Montoya Bryan, ajc, 18 Mar. 2023
  • During times like these, friends and co-workers can be the best people to lean on.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023
  • Later, with a comfortable lead, the team leaned on Pollard to close out the game.
    Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023
  • The Royals, who are off to a great start, have leaned on their pitching staff early in the season.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2024
  • Faced with the dilemma, most grant sites have leaned on the side of limited contact.
    Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2024
  • The figure of Lugar is leaning on a column cap that tops the base of a walnut tree.
    Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Sep. 2024
  • Bednar has shown a knack for pushing the right buttons, for leaning on his team at the right time.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2024
  • Megan Hargan leaned on one of her attorneys and placed a hand over her eyes.
    Olivia Diaz, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2024
  • Along with her mindset coach, Chase leaned on her castmates for support when the show aired.
    Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 27 June 2024
  • From that point forward, leaning on her to save me at school wasn’t an option.
    Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
  • During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark lean on their 20-plus years around the program to present their cases.
    Wesley Alden, Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2024
  • In the picture Swift is leaning on Kelce's shoulder and smiling on one side.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2024
  • The Wings could also lean on a veteran and call up Brian Lashoff.
    Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2023
  • The small landscape painting leaning on the kitchen shelf inspired the room’s palette.
    Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2024
  • One Oakton student owned a guitar, so the band leaned on that instrument and the sousaphones to play the songs’ bass.
    Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2024
  • Maryland’s offense needs more horses The Terps are going to lean on their stars.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2024
  • But the wine world can’t just lean on that tradition; McMillan is right that adapting is key.
    Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2024
  • In the backyard of their log cabin in Hope, an old, blue-bottomed paddle boat leans on its side against a porch post.
    Kristen Jordan Shamus, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2024
  • In the backyard of her log cabin in Hope, an old, blue-bottomed paddle boat leans on its side against a porch post.
    Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 22 Sep. 2024
  • The cat appeared to have cut its paw after leaning on a window and breaking it.
    The Arizona Republic, 12 July 2024
  • The plaque from Gabby’s congressional office leans on a shelf by the front door.
    Alden Woods, The Arizona Republic, 23 July 2024
  • Turner said her daughter was leaning on her faith in God.
    Mike Cason | McAson@al.com, al, 17 Apr. 2023
  • Khloé Kardashian is grateful that her kids have each other and their many cousins to lean on.
    Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
  • Portland will instead lean on Morgan Weaver, whose seven goals rank fifth in the league.
    Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2023
  • Avs are likely to lean on his line a little more early in the season with the missing offensive weapons.
    Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2024
  • In the pods, there were no distractions, no appearances to judge, no superficial crutches to lean on.
    Zack Goytowski, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lean on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: