: a definite but not decisive attraction or tendency
—often used in plural
radical leanings
Examples of leaning in a Sentence
the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings
despite what his athletic leanings might suggest, he was actually a very lazy kid
Recent Examples on the Web
Fearing blackmail and attempting to deny his true leanings, Maurice has been fending off Alec’s advances since their encounter, and now, offended at being rebuffed, Alec has been threatening to publicly expose him.
—
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Ken Jennings' political leanings are no mystery.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Everyone in the world does not and should not be defined by their political leanings, their race, their gender, their beliefs.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
That declaration ultimately ended up encapsulating the vibe of a good portion of my 2025 music leanings, along with the addition of my penchant for good-old-fashioned soppy crooners, all of which contain a through line of really solid storytelling.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leaning
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.
Cite this Entry
“Leaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaning. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share