incline meaning and examples thumbnail

incline meaning and examples

2025-08-27

Meaning

Incline has both verb and noun forms:

  • Verb: To lean, bend, or have a tendency toward something (physically or mentally).
  • Noun: A slope or an upward/downward surface.

Grammar and Usage

  • Verb (intransitive/transitive): intransitive: "She inclined toward the window." transitive: "He inclined his head in agreement."

  • Noun: Refers to a physical slope or gradient.

  • Common structures:

    • incline to/toward (sth) = to have a tendency
    • incline (one’s head) = to bow slightly

Common Phrases

  • Incline one’s head – to nod or bow slightly.
  • Incline to agree – to be likely to agree.
  • A steep incline – a sharp slope.

Collocations

  • Verb + incline: slightly incline, naturally incline, gently incline
  • Noun + incline: steep incline, gentle incline, upward incline
  • Prepositions: incline to, incline toward, incline on

Examples

  1. She inclined her head politely to the guest.
  2. The road continues up a steep incline.
  3. I am inclined to believe his version of the story.
  4. The trees incline toward the sunlight.
  5. He inclined his body forward to hear better.
  6. The path has a gentle incline, making it easy to walk.
  7. Scientists incline to accept the new theory.
  8. She inclined toward helping him despite her doubts.
  9. The child inclined his head against his mother’s shoulder.
  10. The car struggled to climb the sharp incline.
  • Verb: lean, tend, bend, bow, tilt
  • Noun: slope, gradient, rise, hill, ascent