Illustration of lever
- lever 2a
1
a
: a bar used for prying or dislodging something
b
: an inducing or compelling force : tool
use food as a political lever—
Time
Time2
a
: a rigid piece that transmits and modifies force or motion when forces are applied at two points and it turns about a third
specifically
: a rigid bar used to exert a pressure or sustain a weight at one point of its length by the application of a force at a second and turning at a third on a fulcrum
b
: a projecting piece by which a mechanism (see mechanism sense 1) is operated or adjusted
levered; levering
ˈle-və-riŋ 
ˈlē-;
ˈlev-riŋ,
ˈlēv-
1
: to pry, raise, or move with or as if with a lever
2
: to operate (a device) in the manner of a lever
Examples of lever in a Sentence
Noun
They used their money as a lever to gain political power.
Verb
He levered the rock out of the hole.
the workers used crowbars to lever the heavy stone block into its new position
Recent Examples on the Web
Terry Chen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Among its features is the tourbillon at 5 o’clock, two six-column wheels to operate the different levers of the split-seconds function, a specific clamp design and a blade instead of the traditional helical spring.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 May 2025
Sean Conlon, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
One notable fact about this set-up is that the swap part is a derivative contract, and hence is levered for the maturity of the swap (e.g. 30 years).
—Vineer Bhansali, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lever
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Pricing is one of the most powerful—and underutilized—levers in SaaS. A 1% improvement in price can improve operating profit by up to 11%.
—Terry Chen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Among its features is the tourbillon at 5 o’clock, two six-column wheels to operate the different levers of the split-seconds function, a specific clamp design and a blade instead of the traditional helical spring.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 May 2025
Verb
Vinh recommends that investors position in stocks levered to generative artificial intelligence or are further along the destocking process, naming Nvidia and Broadcom in particular.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
One notable fact about this set-up is that the swap part is a derivative contract, and hence is levered for the maturity of the swap (e.g. 30 years).
—Vineer Bhansali, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lever
Cite this Entry
“Lever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lever. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
: a bar used to pry or move something
2
: a stiff bar for applying a force (as for lifting a weight) at one point of its length by effort at a second point and turning at a third point on a fulcrum
3
: a bar or rod used to run or adjust something
a gearshift lever
Etymology
Noun
Middle English lever "bar for prying," from early French levier (same meaning), from lever (verb) "to raise," from Latin levare "to raise" — related to elevate
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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