noun
leaning
LEE-ning/ˈliːnɪŋ/
A tendency to favor something.
His leaning toward blue is clear from his shirt collection.
Etymology
Built on hlinian, “to incline,” leaning names an action or state. A physical tilt became a mental inclination: favoring a belief or preference is pictured as leaning toward it.
More examples
- She has a strong leaning toward abstract art.
- His political leanings differ from those of his parents.
- My leaning is toward a quiet vacation in the mountains.
Forms
leaning · leanings
lean verb — To favor one choice over another.
Similar words
- preference
- More directly identifies what someone likes or chooses over alternatives.
- inclination
- Can emphasize an urge to act rather than a preference.
- bias
- Suggests a stronger prejudice that may distort fair judgment.