incline

1 of 2

verb

in·​cline in-ˈklīn How to pronounce incline (audio)
inclined; inclining
Synonyms of inclinenext

intransitive verb

1
: to bend the head or body forward : bow
2
: to lean, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion or course of conduct
3
: to deviate from a line, direction, or course
specifically : to deviate from the vertical or horizontal

transitive verb

1
: to cause to stoop or bow : bend
2
: to have influence on : persuade
his love of books inclined him toward a literary career
3
: to give a bend or slant to
incliner noun

incline

2 of 2

noun

in·​cline ˈin-ˌklīn How to pronounce incline (audio)
: an inclined plane : grade, slope

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for incline

incline, bias, dispose, predispose mean to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something.

incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions.

I incline to agree

bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice.

the experience biased him against foreigners

dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something.

her nature disposes her to trust others

predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself.

does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?

Examples of incline in a Sentence

Verb She listened with her eyes closed and her head inclined. The road inclines at an angle of about 12 degrees. His love of books inclined him toward a literary career. Noun We drove up a steep incline to the summit. You can adjust the incline of the ramp.
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.
Verb
For comparison, the Peloton Tread goes up 12.5mph and can incline to a 12.5% grade, while Echelon Strides similarly go up to 12.5mph and offer 12 levels of incline. —PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 Treadmill, which is marked down by $200, is conveniently able to auto-adjust speed and incline during iFit workouts. —Suzy Forman, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
Of course, hormones peak in November, but by late October, testosterone levels are on a sharp incline, nearing the top. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024 Heidrick’s 2024 board monitor data shows a steep incline in the number of diverse directors elected after 2019 that has since leveled off. —Alena Botros, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for incline 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French incliner, encliner, from Latin inclinare, from in- + clinare to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incline was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near incline

inclinatory

incline

inclined

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Incline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incline. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

incline

1 of 2 verb
in·​cline in-ˈklīn How to pronounce incline (audio)
inclined; inclining
1
: to bend the head or body forward : bow
2
: to be drawn to an opinion or course of action
inclined to go swimming
3
: to turn or move from a line, direction, or course : lean, slope
4
: to cause to bend, bow, or slant
5
: to have influence on : persuade
my teacher's example inclined me to become a teacher too
inclinable
in-ˈklī-nə-bəl
adjective

incline

2 of 2 noun
in·​cline ˈin-ˌklīn How to pronounce incline (audio)
: slope entry 3 sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on incline

Nglish: Translation of incline for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of incline for Arabic Speakers

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