lever 1 of 2

verb

Definition of levernext
as in to pry
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever the workers used crowbars to lever the heavy stone block into its new position

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lever

2 of 2

noun

as in knob

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lever
Verb
The small, seemingly insignificant experience of controlling an automobile by clutching and levering its gears turned out to be deeply meaningful. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026 At one point, after Gabriel won a header by levering himself up on Haaland’s shoulders, the two grappled on the turf as the game continued around them. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Noun
The lever was not intelligence but the reliability of repetition. — Rene Tzschoppe, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Amylin gives Eli Lilly, Novo and several other companies another biological lever to pull in treating obesity and Type 2 diabetes, either as an independent treatment or layered on top of existing drugs. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lever
  1. pull
  2. knob
  3. lift
  4. button
  5. switch
  6. dial
  7. key
  8. selector
Verb
  • Carl drops onto the couch, pulls Maribeth down on top of him.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • When Randle pulls a defender into the paint, Porter has room to shoot if the ball comes back out.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pull
Noun
  • Topping the shifter is an open-pore laminated walnut knob, a thoughtful nod to iconic Porsche endurance racers like the 908 and 917.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Even the comfort and driving control knobs situated below the phone mount pull out and push back in.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of knob
Verb
  • Low clouds that developed overnight gradually lifted and scattered, allowing more sunshine and temperatures to climb into the lower 90s.
    — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Colorado Sports Betting Laws and Timeline When the federal ban on sports betting was lifted, Colorado was among the first to act.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of lift
Noun
  • The top edge houses the power button, and the bottom edge features a USB-C port for charging and file transfer, along with a microSD card tray slot, which is very rare for ereaders and new to the Go 6.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Add to that Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland, where, if the pilot was incapacitated, a touch of a big red button initiates a safe, autonomous landing.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of button
Noun
  • Her 2024 race in House District 105 was partly a referendum on the party switch, but Cotham survived a recount against Nicole Sidman in a strong year for Republicans overall on the ballot.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Hit the light switch, the thermostat, the remote and the door handle on the way in.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of switch
Noun
  • This platinum version with its salmon-toned dial on a platinum bracelet is exceptionally rare.
    — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Last year’s rotary dial Gboard borrowed from old telephone hardware, making users physically turn concentric dials to select letters.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of dial
Noun
  • Turang said the key is what happens when they are faced with adversity — like Sunday night.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • An attention head compares each word’s query with the keys of all the other words in the sentence.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of key
Noun
  • Sadly, most physical buttons are dead, with the only survivors being a button for hazard lights, one for the gear selector, and the ones on the doors.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The compact, rechargeable design features a digital display, preset selector and automatic shutoff.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of selector

Browse Nearby Words

levels
lever
leverage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lever. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on lever

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lever

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All