Level 5 · word 9,234 of 20,000

incline

/ˈɪnˌklaɪn/ American
Picture: incline
Search Google Images ↗
  • n. 斜坡, 斜面
  • v. 使倾向于
Definition
  • n. a surface that slopes upward or downward
  • v. to make someone tend to feel or think a certain way
Example
The road began to incline sharply near the mountain.
靠近山区时,这条路开始急剧向上倾斜。
Word familyinclin-

Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析

Compared meaning: to be likely to do or think something (verb).

比较义项:表示倾向于(做/想某事)(动词)。

  • tend

    Describes a subject's own habitual tendency to do or be something; used for people, things, or facts in general, followed by 'to' + infinitive, and does not take a direct object.

    这里指主语自身习惯性的倾向,可用于人、事物或泛指的事实,后接动词不定式to,且不能带直接宾语。

    People who skip breakfast tend to feel hungrier by mid-morning.

    不吃早饭的人在上午过半时往往会感觉更饿。

  • incline 本词

    Used when an outside cause—someone's nature or circumstances—makes another person tend to feel, think, or act a certain way; the cause is the subject, and it takes an object plus 'to' + infinitive; more formal than 'tend'.

    这里指某种外部原因——比如一个人的性格或客观情况——使另一个人倾向于产生某种感觉、想法或行为;句子的主语通常是那个原因,后面要接宾语再加动词不定式to;语气比tend更正式。

    His kindness inclines him to trust strangers easily.

    他的善良让他很容易就信任陌生人。

Tend and incline both mean to be likely to do or think something. Tend is a subject's own habitual tendency. Incline means an outside cause makes someone tend to feel or act that way, and is more formal. Other senses are not compared here.

这两个词都表达“倾向”的意思,容易被中文学习者混淆,但语法结构不同:tend描述主语自身习惯性的倾向,incline(此处的用法)则表示某个外部原因使别人产生某种倾向,语气也更正式、书面化。这里不比较incline“使倾斜、倾斜”的义项(如道路倾斜),也不比较tend“照料、照看”的义项。