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Glite Dictionary
to lean on

to lean on

61 1.8
To rest against someone or something for support
  • phrasal verb
  • /lin ɑn/
translation icon : apoyarse en
  • After a long day, she needed to lean on the wall for support.

Examples

  • When feeling tired, it's comfortable to lean on a sturdy chair.

  • And so for me, I really just lean on my friends.

  • And it's nice to have a community that I can lean on for those sort of things.

  • You can lean on me.

    Let Him Go (2020)

  • You just lean on me, huh?

    Saint Jack (1979)

  • Can be that friend we all need to lean on during uncertain times.

    Don't Look Up (2021)

  • They know how to lean on someone when they are struggling.

  • Across the doorway, there is a metal bar which my uncle leans on with both hands.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Or they would lean on the posts, passing a beer back and forth while they chatted.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • He decided to lean on his sister during this tough time.

Synonyms

to rest
vsto lean on
182 1.0

To put something on or against something so it stays steady

uses body weight against another for human physical support
to lean against
vsto lean on
85 1.4

To rest your body lightly on something for support

uses more weight for firm physical support rather than light balance
to rest on
vsto lean on
66 1.0

To put part of your body or an object on something for support

uses body weight while staying against another person or object for support
to rest on someone's shoulder
vsto lean on
1 2.8

To lean your head or body against another person's shoulder for comfort

is used for general physical support, not only intimate comfort placements

Antonyms

to detach
16 3.9

To take something off from what it is connected to

to stand on its own
11 4.9

To be independent and not need help from others

How Supported

to brace
150 4.4
to rest on
66 1.0
to lean on
61 1.8
to touch
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

lean on infinitive
leaned on past
leaned on past participle
leaning on present participle
leans on third person singular

Morphology

lean + on

The meaning 'to rest against or on something or someone for physical support' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'lean' (to bend or rest at an angle) with the preposition 'on' (indicating contact/location). This compositional motion/location pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English usage, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The verb lean on comes from the simple picture of putting your weight against someone or something, literally to lean your body on a friend, a railing, or a wall for help. So it means 'to rest on' or 'to use for support'.