incline

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪnˈklaɪn/ UK /ɪnˈklaɪn/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to lean or slope; also a sloping surface

The path inclines steeply toward the summit.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to lean or slope; also a... slope lean tilt slant tend gradient descent

Opposites

level disincline

Word family

Forms inclinesinclining

Derived forms inclinedincliningincliner

Related forms inclination disincline recline decline

Simplified etymology

Incline entered English in the Middle English period and belongs to a word family based on Latin clinare, referring to bending or sloping; decline, recline, and the Old English verb lean are related through this root.

Etymology

From Latin inclinare ('to lean, bend toward'), from in- ('toward') + clinare ('to bend, lean'). Entered Middle English via Old French encliner.

inclinare Latin clinare Latin *ḱley- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# incline

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈklaɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈklaɪn/

## Meanings
1. to lean or slope; also a sloping surface

## Examples
- The path inclines steeply toward the summit.

## Synonyms
- slope
- lean
- tilt
- slant
- tend
- gradient
- descent

## Antonyms
- level
- disincline

## Derived Forms
- inclined
- inclining
- incliner

## Related Forms
- inclination
- disincline
- recline
- decline

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: inclinare
- Root: clinare
- Root: *ḱley-

## Etymology
From Latin inclinare ('to lean, bend toward'), from in- ('toward') + clinare ('to bend, lean'). Entered Middle English via Old French encliner.

## AI Etymology
Incline is from Latin inclinare ('to lean, bend toward'), from in- ('toward') + clinare ('to bend, lean'). Entered Middle English via Old French encliner. Important recorded forms include inclinare (Latin), clinare (Latin), and *ḱley- (Proto-Indo-European). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers to lean or slope; also a sloping surface. The wider family includes derived forms such as inclined, inclining, and incliner and related words such as inclination, disincline, recline, and decline.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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