Incline Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Published on June 12, 2026
Incline refers to a slope or gradient, or the act of bending forward or leaning towards something. e.g., The steep incline made it difficult for them to hike up the hill.
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Incline Definitions
To lean or tilt towards a particular direction.
The tower inclines slightly to the west due to its foundation.
A slanted surface or angle.
The artist used the incline of the street to create a unique perspective in his painting.
To bend one's head or body forward or bow.
He inclined his head in respect when meeting the elders.
To cause (someone) to feel a particular disposition or inclination.
His persuasive speech inclined the audience to agree with his point of view.
The act of inclining or state of being inclined.
The robot's design allows for a greater incline of its arms for better reach.
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A railroad track with a steep grade, used especially for transporting goods.
The old mining town had an incline for transporting coal.
To deviate from the vertical or horizontal; slant.
The ancient pillars incline slightly, showing their age.
To aim or direct one's course towards something.
The ship inclined towards the harbor as the storm approached.
To cause (someone) to have a certain tendency
Dispose.
To dispose (someone) to have a certain preference or opinion or to take a course of action
I'm inclined to agree with you. Are you inclined to go to out tonight?.
To cause to lean, slant, or slope
"Galileo ... inclined the plane and rolled brass balls down it" (George Johnson).
To bend or lower in a nod or bow
I inclined my head in acquiescence.
To be disposed to a certain preference, opinion, or course of action
Some researchers incline toward a different view of the problem.
To deviate from the horizontal or vertical; slant
When the path inclined steeply, it became difficult to continue hiking.
To lower or bend the head or body, as in a nod or bow.
An inclined surface; a slope or gradient
The car rolled down the incline.
(transitive) To bend or move (something) out of a given plane or direction, often the horizontal or vertical.
He had to incline his body against the gusts to avoid being blown down in the storm.
The people following the coffin inclined their heads in grief.
(intransitive) To slope.
Over the centuries the wind made the walls of the farmhouse incline.
To tend to do or believe something, or move or be moved in a certain direction, away from a point of view, attitude, etc.
He inclines to believe anything he reads in the newspapers.
I'm inclined to give up smoking after hearing of the risks to my health.
A slope.
To reach the building, we had to climb a steep incline.
A portal of a subway tunnel.
To deviate from a line, direction, or course, toward an object; to lean; to tend; as, converging lines incline toward each other; a road inclines to the north or south.
Fig.: To lean or tend, in an intellectual or moral sense; to favor an opinion, a course of conduct, or a person; to have a propensity or inclination; to be disposed.
Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech.
Power finds its balance, giddy motions ceaseIn both the scales, and each inclines to peace.
To bow; to incline the head.
To cause to deviate from a line, position, or direction; to give a leaning, bend, or slope to; as, incline the column or post to the east; incline your head to the right.
Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear.
To impart a tendency or propensity to, as to the will or affections; to turn; to dispose; to influence.
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies.
Incline our hearts to keep this law.
To bend; to cause to stoop or bow; as, to incline the head or the body in acts of reverence or civility.
With due respect my body I inclined.
An inclined plane; an ascent or descent; a grade or gradient; a slope.
An elevated geological formation;
He climbed the steep slope
The house was built on the side of the mountain
An inclined surface or roadway that moves traffic from one level to another
Have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined;
She tends to be nervous before her lectures
These dresses run small
He inclined to corpulence
Bend or turn (one's ear) towards a speaker in order to listen well;
He inclined his ear to the wise old man
Lower or bend (the head or upper body), as in a nod or bow;
She inclined her head to the student
Be at an angle;
The terrain sloped down
Make receptive or willing towards an action or attitude or belief;
Their language inclines us to believe them
A slope or ramp that ascends or descends.
The incline to the parking garage was icy and dangerous.
To feel disposed towards something or someone; a tendency.
She inclines towards classical music rather than pop.
Incline Snonyms
Tilt
To cause to lean, incline, slope, or slant.
He tilted the bottle to pour the last drops of wine.
Bend
To shape something by applying force; to curve.
The heavy snow bent the tree branches to the ground.
Tendency
An inclination towards a particular characteristic or type of behavior.
She has a tendency to speak her mind.
Dip
A downward incline or slope.
The road dips after the bridge, so slow down.
Slant
To lean or tilt away from the upright or vertical position.
The afternoon sun slants through the window, lighting the room.
Lean
To incline or bend from a vertical position.
The tree leans towards the house, posing a risk during storms.
Slope
Ground that has a natural incline, either upward or downward.
The slope behind the house is perfect for sledding in winter.
Gradient
The degree to which something inclines; a slope.
The road's steep gradient required careful driving.
Pitch
The degree of slope or incline, especially of a roof.
The roof's high pitch helps it shed snow easily.
Grade
The slope of a road, path, etc., especially as expressed as a percentage.
The grade was so steep that it required additional safety measures.
Incline Idioms & Phrases
Incline one's ear
To listen attentively or favorably.
The teacher inclined her ear to the student's concerns.
On the incline
Increasing or becoming more prevalent.
Solar energy usage is on the incline.
Incline your heart to wisdom
To open one's mind or to be receptive to wise ideas.
He inclined his heart to wisdom, learning much from the elders.
Take an incline to
To develop a liking or tendency towards something.
She took an incline to painting during the summer.
Incline to the left/right
Having political or ideological leanings.
The party has recently inclined more to the left.
Incline towards/against
To have a preference for or against something.
He inclines towards staying in rather than going out.
Incline Example Sentences
The driveway's incline becomes treacherous with ice.
Their musical tastes incline towards jazz and blues.
The garden was designed with a gentle incline to facilitate drainage.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide incline into syllables?
Incline is divided into syllables as in-cline.
What is a stressed syllable in incline?
The stressed syllable in "incline" is the second syllable, "cline."
What is the verb form of incline?
The verb form is "incline," as in to lean or tend towards.
What is the first form of incline?
The first form is "incline," used as the present tense.
What is the second form of incline?
The second form is "inclined," used as the simple past tense.
What is the third form of incline?
The third form is "inclined," used as the past participle.
What is the singular form of incline?
The singular form is "incline."
Why is it called incline?
It's called an incline because it denotes a slope or a tendency to lean or bend towards something, originating from the Latin word "inclinare" meaning to bend towards.
How many syllables are in incline?
There are two syllables in "incline."
How is incline used in a sentence?
The road inclines sharply to the left after the bridge.
What part of speech is incline?
"Incline" can be both a noun and a verb, depending on its use in a sentence.
What is the root word of incline?
The root word of "incline" is the Latin "inclinare," which means to lean or bend.
What is another term for incline?
Another term for incline is "slope."
Is incline a noun or adjective?
Incline can be a noun when referring to a slope, and it does not function as an adjective.
Is incline an adverb?
No, "incline" is not an adverb.
Is incline a negative or positive word?
"Incline" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
Is incline a countable noun?
Yes, "incline" is a countable noun, as you can have multiple inclines.
Is the incline term a metaphor?
"Incline" can be used metaphorically to describe a tendency or preference in a non-literal sense.
Is the word incline imperative?
"Incline" can be used in the imperative mood when giving a command, e.g., "Incline your ear to wisdom."
Is the word incline Gerund?
The gerund form of "incline" is "inclining."
What is the pronunciation of incline?
Incline is pronounced as /ɪnˈklaɪn/.
Is incline a vowel or consonant?
The word "incline" starts with a vowel sound.
Which preposition is used with incline?
Prepositions such as "towards," "against," and "on" are commonly used with "incline."
What is the plural form of incline?
The plural form is "inclines."
Is incline a collective noun?
No, "incline" is not a collective noun.
Which conjunction is used with incline?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "incline" in compound sentences.
Which article is used with incline?
Both definite ("the") and indefinite ("an") articles can be used with "incline," depending on the context.
What is the opposite of incline?
The opposite of incline could be "decline" in terms of direction, or "disinclination" in terms of preference.
Is incline an abstract noun?
No, incline is not an abstract noun; it refers to something tangible or a physical action.
Is the word “incline” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Incline" can serve as a direct object in a sentence, e.g., "The hiker navigated the incline with ease."
Which determiner is used with incline?
Determiners like "the," "a," "an," or possessive pronouns can be used with "incline."
Which vowel is used before incline?
The article "an" is used before "incline" in indefinite cases because it starts with a vowel sound.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
