Which word means a tendency to support something or like something; a preference?

• A. Inclination
• B. Incline
• C. Incentive
• D. Incidence

Answer: (A)

A tendency to support or like something is best captured by inclination—a natural leaning or preference toward a person, idea, or course of action. It describes how someone tends to think or feel in a given situation, often without external prompting. For example, you might say someone has an inclination toward classical music, meaning they naturally favor it.

The other words don’t fit as well. Incline can refer to a slope or, as a verb, to leaning toward something, but as a stand-alone noun it doesn’t name a person’s preference. Incentive is something that motivates action—an external reason to do something—rather than a preexisting preference. Incidence refers to the rate or frequency of something occurring, not a personal tendency or liking.