incline

An incline is a sloping surface, like a hill, ramp, or a road that rises gradually. You can incline your head to listen more closely, and a skier may enjoy a steep incline for a fast ride. It can also mean a natural preference or tendency; someone might be inclined toward artistic pursuits.

Imagine walking up a gentle hill: that is an incline. Or picture leaning forward while concentrating on a difficult task: you are inclining your body. The word suggests moving away from a level position, whether in a physical or more figurative sense. A writer might say someone "inclines toward" pessimism, meaning they naturally lean toward negative thinking.

The word "incline" describes something that slopes upward or downward; a surface that is not perfectly horizontal. Think of the famous Lombard Street in San Francisco, with its steep, winding incline. It is most commonly used to describe physical surfaces like hills, ramps, roads, or even the angle of a roof. "The road had a sharp incline after the bridge" means it began to rise steeply.

However, "incline" isn't limited to just physical slopes. As a verb, to incline means to lean, bend, or turn towards something. You might incline your ear to hear a whisper, or incline your head in agreement.

More subtly, "incline" can also express a natural tendency or preference. To be "inclined toward" jazz music suggests that a person naturally gravitates toward that genre. It is like a gentle pull in a particular direction, not a forceful decision, but a leaning of the heart or mind. You might say someone is "inclined to believe" something, meaning they are predisposed to accept it as true.

Historically, "incline" also carried a sense of bending or yielding, showing a willingness to be influenced. Shakespeare often used it this way.

So, whether you are describing a physical slope, a body leaning in response to something, or a natural preference, "incline" points to a movement away from the straight and level, a gentle bend toward something else.