incline

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2

釋義

to be drawn toward a particular opinion, feeling, or action, or to create that tendency in another person

例句

Maja inclined toward accepting the job offer after learning about the flexible hours.

incline toward + gerund for tendency

Pedro's past success inclined the committee to trust him with the new project.

transitive: incline + object + to-infinitive

同義詞

tend
simpler and more common; no implication of influence from outside
lean
slightly less formal, often used in 'lean toward' for opinions
be disposed
more formal, suggests a pre-existing mental state rather than a developing one
predispose
stronger, implies a biological or prior experience as the cause

反義詞

deter
to discourage someone from an action or belief

文法句型

be inclined + to-infinitive

incline + to/toward + noun

用法筆記

Frequently passive: the past participle 'inclined' acts almost like an adjective ('I am inclined to agree'). The active intransitive form ('He inclines toward…') is more formal and less common in speech.

常見錯誤

❌I incline to go home early.

✅I am inclined to go home early.

💡'incline' as an active verb is rarely used for personal preferences in everyday English; the passive form is the natural choice.

❌The weather inclined me for staying inside.

✅The weather inclined me to stay inside.

💡use a to-infinitive, not 'for + gerund'.

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B1

釋義

to be positioned at an angle rather than flat or upright, or to place something in such a sloping position

例句

The old bookshelf inclined slightly to the left, making the top row look crooked.

intransitive: incline + direction

The architect inclined the glass roof at exactly fifteen degrees for better drainage.

transitive: incline + object + at [angle]

同義詞

slope
more common in everyday language for surfaces and terrain
slant
suggests a diagonal line or surface, often less gradual than incline
tilt
implies one side is raised or lowered, often used for objects rather than land
lean
common for objects resting against something; more informal than incline

反義詞

level
to make flat or even

文法句型

incline + [direction/preposition]

inclined + noun phrase

用法筆記

More formal than 'lean' or 'slope' for physical position. 'The road slopes' is everyday English; 'the road inclines' is more technical or literary. Common in descriptions of architecture and geography.

常見錯誤

❌The hill inclines to the river.' (vague)

✅The hill inclines gently toward the river.

💡add an adverb such as 'gently' or 'steeply' for clarity.

3.動詞及物B2

釋義

to move your face and upper body forward and downward to show polite attention, agreement, or respect

例句

Selim inclined his head to thank the priest as he received the blessing.

formal context: inclined his head + to-infinitive

Sirin inclined her head slightly to show she had understood the instructions.

showing understanding non-verbally

同義詞

bow
a more pronounced whole-body gesture; less subtle than incline
nod
lighter and more common; just a quick dip of the head
bend forward
more literal, less associated with ceremonial meaning

文法句型

incline + [head/body] + [direction/preposition]

用法筆記

Almost exclusively takes 'head' or 'body' as the direct object. 'Incline one's head' is a formal alternative to 'nod' — the latter is preferred in casual conversation. Unlike 'bow', which involves the whole upper body, 'incline' usually describes a smaller, more subtle movement.

常見錯誤

❌She inclined at the end of the song.' (missing object)

✅She inclined her head at the end of the song.

💡this sense always needs a direct object stating what body part is bent.

incline — verb

1. to be drawn toward a particular opinion, feeling, or action, or to create that t

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

2. to be positioned at an angle rather than flat or upright, or to place something

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

3. to move your face and upper body forward and downward to show polite attention,

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

incline — noun

1. a surface that rises or falls at an angle, connecting a lower area to a higher o

用法筆記

常見錯誤