: 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 mechanismsense 1) is operated or adjusted
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
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Noun
Those are the only two levers that a senior person has for guiding, for leading in their absence.—Harvard Business Review, 30 Apr. 2025 There’s multiple levers to that, some of it has been pretty well documented.—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 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
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French levier, lever, from lever to raise, from Latin levare, from levis light in weight — more at light
: 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
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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