What does "inclination" mean?
A physical tilt or bend.
Inclination
/ˌɪn.klɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A physical tilt or bend.
- Grammar: inclination is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: leaning, tendency, tilt, a thing for.
- Useful contrasts: no tendency toward, aversion, disinclination.
- Usage evidence: I have an inclination for poetry.
How to use "inclination"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "inclination" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "inclination" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "inclination" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "inclination" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "inclination" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "leaning" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "inclination", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A physical tilt or bend. countable, uncountable
"The inclination of his head increased and he awoke with a start."
- 2 the act of inclining; bending forward wordnet
- 3 A slant or slope. countable, uncountable
"The road up to the house had a steep inclination."
- 4 a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or character or effect wordnet
- 5 A tendency. countable, uncountable
"His inclination to drink escalated to alcoholism."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical wordnet
- 7 The angle of intersection of a reference plane. countable, uncountable
"The astronomer calculated the inclination of the equator or ecliptic of Earth and the orbital planes of each visible heavenly body."
- 8 an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others wordnet
- 9 A person or thing loved or admired. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"c. 1672-1679, William Temple, Memoirs you make will be a Discovery of your Inclinations"
- 10 that toward which you are inclined to feel a liking wordnet
- 11 (geometry) the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line (measured counterclockwise from the positive half of the x-axis) wordnet
- 12 (astronomy) the angle between the plane of the orbit and the plane of the ecliptic stated in degrees wordnet
- 13 (physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I have an inclination for poetry."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "inclination"?
Common synonyms include: leaning, tendency, tilt, a thing for, advertency, affection.
How do you use "inclination" in a sentence?
I have an inclination for poetry.
How do you pronounce "inclination"?
Pronounced /ˌɪn.klɪˈneɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English inclinacioun, inclinacyon, from Old French inclination and Latin inclīnātiō. Morphologically incline + -ation.