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

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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
Every lever that once nudged wealth toward charity has grown weaker. — Vandana Arcot, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 Use the lever to push the claws down over the weed with your foot, then remove your foot and lean the handle towards the lever. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 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
  • The Moon enters Sagittarius and your 4th House of Home, Family, and Emotional Roots, pulling your focus toward rest, privacy, space, or household needs.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
  • With a steam engine, the boat pulled heavy cargo between Budapest and other towns along the Danube.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pull
Noun
  • Its front door was six inches too short for its frame and outfitted with a bathroom push knob instead of a lever handle, almost as if the original slab had been blown from its casing by an internal explosion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Some may be automatic, while others require the user to slip a cap over the end or rotate a knob.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of knob
Verb
  • With their victory, Cameroon became just the fourth nation to lift the WAFCON trophy since 1998 and the third to win both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations (alongside Nigeria and South Africa).
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The rally powering the major averages this year has lifted small-cap stocks – and several also offer dividend income and the prospect for further gains.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lift
Noun
  • Shavers has spent years warning about button pushing, where an examiner runs the tool, accepts the output and calls it an examination.
    — Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Men’s styles include the 501 Loose, a roomier take on the classic button fly and straight leg, and the Baggy Barrel, a roomy silhouette that tapers at the ankle and has waist adjusters for a customizable fit.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of button
Noun
  • Those system switches in 2024-25 were made because key winger Ephron Mason-Clark picked up an injury.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Bacteria become switches The researchers used Pantoea agglomerans, a bacterium commonly found on plants and other surfaces.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of switch
Noun
  • Every big investment firm has piled into insurance, turning the risk dial up and printing money for themselves while regulators and ratings agencies looked the other way.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • There's also the brand's signature Chronocluster that displays engine speed in RPM, vehicle speed, and turbo boost info all in a single multi-faced dial.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of dial
Noun
  • The hyperscalers now ship routing inside Amazon Bedrock, Vertex AI and Azure AI Foundry, and any customer large enough to negotiate provider discounts already has bring-your-own-key as an exit.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drop the car keys and board the wooden motor yacht affectionately named Truman.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of key
Noun
  • The car is fit with a four-speed Wilson pre-selector transmission.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Thankfully, though, there are quite a few physical buttons, alongside a gear selector that resembles an airplane throttle, and a rotary drive-mode knob.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of selector

Browse Nearby Words

levels
lever
leverage
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Cite this Entry

“Lever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lever. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lever

Nglish: Translation of lever for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lever

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