To depend on someone for support or help, especially emotionally, or to put pressure on someone to do something.
Depend on someone to help you, or push someone to do what you want.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To depend on someone for emotional support or practical help, especially during a difficult time.
"She really leaned on her sister during those tough months after the divorce."
Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend.
— Bill Withers, 'Lean on Me', 1972
To put pressure on someone, often through intimidation or coercion, to make them do something.
"The union leaders were accused of leaning on workers to vote a certain way."
To rest your body weight against someone or something for physical support.
"He leaned on the fence and watched the cattle in the field."
To lean (place your physical weight) on someone or something.
Depend on someone to help you, or push someone to do what you want.
The 'rely on for support' sense is very common and generally positive. The 'put pressure on / intimidate' sense is informal and carries a negative connotation. Also used literally (lean your body weight on something or someone). Bill Withers' song 'Lean on Me' (1972) made the emotional support sense very well known globally.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "lean on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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