Definition

1. Verb:
   • To rest on for physical support: To use something or someone as a support to bear part of one's weight.
   • To depend on for emotional or psychological support: To rely on someone for comfort, advice, or strength during difficult times.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Physical Support):
  • The old man had to lean on his cane as he walked.
  • She leaned on the wall, exhausted from the long journey.
• Verb (Emotional/Psychological Support):
  • During her grief, she knew she could lean on her family.
  • It's okay to lean on your friends when you're feeling stressed.

Advanced Usage

• "to lean on someone heavily": To depend on someone to a very great degree.
  • After the accident, he leaned on his brother heavily for both physical and emotional support.
• "to lean on something for guidance": To use something as a primary source of advice or direction.
  • The new manager leaned on the company's policy manual for guidance.

Variants and Related Words

• Lean (verb): To incline or bend from a vertical position.
  • The tower leans slightly to the north.
• Leaning (noun): A tendency or inclination.
  • He has a strong leaning towards artistic pursuits.

Synonyms

• Rely on: To depend on with full trust or confidence.
• Count on: To rely on; to expect with certainty.
• Depend on: To be determined or influenced by; to need for support.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lean against: To rest one's weight or body against a vertical surface.
  • He leaned against the doorframe while waiting.
• Lean towards: To have a tendency or preference for.
  • I'm leaning towards accepting the job offer.

Related Idioms

• Lean on someone's shoulder: To seek comfort or sympathy from someone (often by literally resting one's head on their shoulder while upset).
  • After the bad news, she just needed to lean on his shoulder and cry.
• A leaning tower: A reference to something that is not upright or stable (from the Leaning Tower of Pisa).
  • The old barn was like a leaning tower, ready to fall.

Verb

1. rest on for support
   • you can lean on me if you get tired