# lean

/ˈɫin/ (US) · /lˈiːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lean
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to bend or slant

verb · CEFR B1

to bend your body or move something so it is not straight up and down.

For teachers: to incline or deviate from a vertical position.

- He had to lean out of the window to see the parade coming down the street.
- The old tower began to lean precariously to the west, prompting engineers to install massive steel reinforcements at its base.

### 2. to rest against

verb · CEFR B1

to rest your weight against something for support.

For teachers: to rest or rely on something for physical support or to press against a surface.

- You can lean your bicycle against the wall while we go inside.
- Exhausted after the climb, the hikers leaned against the damp cave wall to catch their breath before the descent.

### 3. to prefer an idea

verb · CEFR B2

to be more likely to choose or support one idea over another.

For teachers: to incline in opinion, taste, or desire; often used with the prepositions 'to' or 'towards'.

- I am leaning towards the blue car, but the red one is cheaper.
- While the committee remains undecided, several members appear to be leaning towards the more conservative investment strategy.

### 4. thin and fit

adjective · CEFR B2

thin in a healthy way, with strong muscles and little fat.

For teachers: thin and fit; containing little or no fat.

- The athlete had a lean, muscular body from years of training.
- The trainer recommended a diet of lean proteins and complex carbohydrates to help the boxer reach his target weight class.

### 5. efficient or scarce

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

using only what is necessary without wasting money or time; also used for times when there is not much of something.

For teachers: efficient and economic; also used to describe periods of scarcity or meagre resources.

- The company became more profitable after adopting lean manufacturing methods.
- During the lean years of the recession, the family learned to survive on a very strict budget with no room for luxuries.

### 6. a slope

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a position where something is not straight.

For teachers: an inclination or slope away from the vertical.

- The fence has a slight lean after the heavy storm last night.
- The architect noted a distinct lean in the supporting pillars, suggesting that the foundation had settled unevenly over the decades.

### 7. drug mixture

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

a dangerous drink made from strong cough medicine and soda.

For teachers: a recreational drug mixture typically involving codeine-based cough syrup and soda.

- The song mentions drinking lean, which is a very harmful habit.
- Public health officials have raised concerns about the glamorisation of lean in certain subcultures due to its highly addictive nature.

## Examples

- The athlete has a lean and muscular build.
- The startup remained lean during its first year by hiring only essential staff and working from a shared office.
- By adopting lean manufacturing principles, the factory significantly reduced its overhead costs while simultaneously increasing the speed of its production line.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.