leverage

1 of 2

noun

le·​ver·​age ˈle-və-rij 

ˈlē-;

ˈlev-rij,

ˈlēv-

1

: the action of a lever or the mechanical advantage gained by it

2

: power, effectiveness

trying to gain more political leverage

3

: the use of credit to enhance one's speculative capacity

leverage

2 of 2

verb

leveraged; leveraging

transitive verb

1

: to provide (something, such as a corporation) or supplement (something, such as money) with leverage

also : to enhance as if by supplying with financial leverage

2

: to use for gain : exploit

shamelessly leverage the system to their advantage

—Alexander Wolff

Synonyms

Noun

• authority
• clout
• credit
• heft
• in
• influence
• juice [slang]
• pull
• sway
• weight

Verb

• abuse
• capitalize (on)
• cash in (on)
• exploit
• impose (on or upon)
• milk
• pimp
• play (on or upon)
• use
• work

Examples of leverage in a Sentence

Noun

The union's size gave it leverage in the labor contract negotiations.

The player's popularity has given him a great deal of leverage with the owners of the team.

I used the leverage of the bar and a wooden block to pry the rock out of the hole.

Verb

The company wants to leverage its brands more effectively.

a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Companies are also navigating a crunch for talent: frontline workers gained significant leverage during the pandemic, and upward mobility and working conditions consistently rank near the top of their priorities. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 6 June 2024

Hitting hospitals gives attackers leverage because doctors have to resolve the ensuing disruptions fast, according to Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who led a U.S. government commission studying cybersecurity. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Europe, 5 June 2024

Verb

Over time, starlets, musicians and now content creators partner with companies to leverage their popularity and platform to promote a product, but one marketing campaign does not fit all. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 7 June 2024

Portfolio careerists: As the predominant group (comprising 39% of Gen Z freelancers), portfolio careerists leverage their specialized skills across diverse clients and sectors, seeking both autonomy and deeper purpose in their work. —Bykelly Monahan, Fortune, 6 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

leverage

noun

le·​ver·​age

ˈlev-(ə-)rij,

ˈlēv-

: the action of a lever or the increase in force gained by using a lever

Legal Definition

leverage

1 of 2 noun

le·​ver·​age ˈle-vrij, -və-rij 

: the use of credit to enhance one's speculative capacity

leverage

2 of 2 transitive verb

leveraged; leveraging

: to provide (as a corporation) or supplement (as money) with leverage