Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense inclines, present participle inclining, past tense, past participle inclinedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (ɪnklaɪn). The noun is pronounced (ɪnklaɪn).
1. verb
If you inclineto think or act in a particular way, or if something inclines you to it, you are likely to think or act in that way.
[formal]
I incline to the view that he is right. [V + to/towards]
...the factors which incline us towards particular beliefs. [V n + to/towards]
Many end up as team leaders, which inclines them to co-operate with the bosses. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Those who fail incline to blame the world for their failure. [VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: predispose, influence, tend, persuade More Synonyms of incline
2. verb
If you incline your head, you bend your neck so that your head is leaning forward.
[written]
Jack inclined his head very slightly. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bend, lower, nod, bow More Synonyms of incline
3. countable noun
An incline is land that slopes at an angle.
[formal]
He came to a halt at the edge of a steep incline.
Synonyms: slope, rise, dip, grade More Synonyms of incline
More Synonyms of incline
incline in British English
verb (ɪnˈklaɪn)
1.
to deviate or cause to deviate from a particular plane, esp a vertical or horizontal plane; slope or slant
2. (whentr, may take an infinitive)
to be disposed or cause to be disposed (towards some attitude or to do something)
he inclines towards levity
that does not incline me to think that you are right
3.
to bend or lower (part of the body, esp the head), as in a bow or in order to listen
4. incline one's ear
noun (ˈɪnklaɪn, ɪnˈklaɪn)
5.
an inclined surface or slope; gradient
6. short for inclined railway
Derived forms
incliner (inˈcliner)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Latin inclīnāre to cause to lean, from clīnāre to bend; see lean1
incline in American English
(ɪnˈklaɪn; for n., usually ˈɪnˌklaɪn)
verb intransitiveWord forms: inˈclined or inˈclining
1.
to deviate from a horizontal or vertical position, course, etc.; lean; slope; slant
2.
to bend or bow the body or head
3.
a.
to have a particular disposition or bent of mind, will, etc.
b.
to have a tendency
4.
to have a preference or liking
verb transitive
5.
to cause to lean, slope, slant, etc.; bend
6.
to bend or bow (the body or head)
7.
to give a tendency to; make willing; dispose; influence
noun
8.
an inclined plane or surface; slope; grade; slant
Idioms:
incline one's ear
Derived forms
incliner (inˈcliner)
noun
Word origin
ME enclinen < OFr encliner < L inclinare < in-, on, to + clinare, to lean1
Examples of 'incline' in a sentence
incline
That way you will be less inclined to back out.
The Sun (2016)
They are often forced into crime and are less inclined to ask to be tested for viruses or seek help for other health problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I am inclined to think she is right.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You were inclined to agree.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Bond inclined his head towards the door.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You may also be inclined to switch because a number of providers are raising their charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is inclined to agree with their judgement.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
But universities inclined to blame schools for low student attainment will find that the inclination is mutual.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are inclined to take only considered risks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We only walked for four hours today because of the intense heat and steep incline.
The Sun (2009)
She was inclined to think that the thing sounded more portentous than amusing.
Frances Hodgson Burnett Emily Fox-Seton (1901)
The investor loses out and again is less inclined to trade.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are vulnerable and may not be inclined to shop around.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Modern scholarship is anyway inclined to take a more generous view than the early critics.
Stewart Lamont WHEN SCOTLAND RULED THE WORLD: The Story of the Golden Age of Genius, Creativityand Exploration (2002)
Specialist equipment was required to reach her down the steep incline.
The Sun (2016)
If we measured our age in days would we be less inclined to squander our lives?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That way they may be less inclined to demand them back.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He inclined his head in approval.
Baxter, Stephen Anti-Ice (1993)
There's just some people who are that way inclined.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Keep any fat you have trimmed to make dripping, if you are that way inclined.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
His Lordship was inclined to think that it did.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If you accept, you incline your head in a slight and regal manner.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
I was more inclined to view it as a compliment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Midway through the experiment I felt inclined to blame myself for this.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Not that the world, in its present mood, would be inclined to listen.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Bell is also inclined towards that view: 'A person who plants a garden plants happiness or enduring pleasure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The danger is it will be scaled up and still we won't care about the impact and so will be less inclined to listen to their message.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
incline
British English: incline NOUN
An incline is land that slopes at an angle.
He came to a halt at the edge of a steep incline.
American English: incline
Brazilian Portuguese: ladeira
Chinese: 斜坡
European Spanish: pendiente
French: pente
German: Abhang
Italian: pendio
Japanese: 傾斜面
Korean: 비탈
European Portuguese: ladeira
Latin American Spanish: pendiente
British English: incline VERB
If you incline to think or act in a particular way, or if something inclines you to it, you are likely to think or act in that way.
I incline to the view that he is right.
American English: incline
Brazilian Portuguese: inclinar
Chinese: 倾向于
European Spanish: inclinar
French: incliner
German: neigen zu
Italian: tendere
Japanese: ～する気にさせる/～する気になる
Korean: 마음이 기울게 하다
European Portuguese: inclinar
Latin American Spanish: inclinar
Chinese translation of 'incline'
incline
(nˈɪnklaɪn; vbɪnˈklaɪn)
n(c)
(= slope) 斜坡 (xiépō) (道, dào)
vt
(= bend)[head]低 (dī)
vi
[surface]倾(傾)斜 (qīngxié)
I incline to the view that ... (frm) 我倾(傾)向于(於) ... 的观(觀)点(點) (wǒ qīngxiàng yú ... de guāndiǎn)
1 (verb)
Definition
to have or cause to have a certain tendency or disposition
the factors which incline us towards particular beliefs
Synonyms
predispose
Some factors predispose certain individuals to criminal behaviour.
influence
The conference influenced us to launch the campaign.
tend
persuade
the event which persuaded the United States to enter the war
prejudice
I think your upbringing has prejudiced you.
bias
We mustn't allow it to bias our teaching.
sway
Don't ever be swayed by fashion.
turn
dispose
theologies which dispose their adherents to fanaticism
2 (verb)
Definition
to bend or lower (part of the body, esp. the head)
He inclined his head very slightly.
Synonyms
bend
Bend the bar into a horseshoe.
lower
nod
She nodded her head in understanding.
bow
He bowed slightly before taking her bag.
stoop
He stooped to pick up the carrier bag of groceries.
nutate (rare)
3 (verb)
Definition
to veer from a vertical or horizontal plane
Synonyms
slope
The garden sloped quite steeply.
tend
Lighter cars tend to be noisy.
tip
She tipped her head back to breathe.
bend
lean
He leaned forward to take the glass from her.
heel
tilt
The boat instantly tilted, filled and sank.
slant
The morning sun slanted through the glass roof.
veer
diverge
deviate
He didn't deviate from his schedule.
cant
The helicopter canted inward towards the landing area.
bevel
(noun)
Definition
an inclined surface or slope
I came to a halt at the edge of a steep incline.
Synonyms
slope
a mountain slope
rise
I climbed to the top of the rise.
dip
grade
descent
On the descents, cyclists freewheel past cars.
ramp
a ramp to facilitate entry into the pool from a wheelchair