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
Max Zahn, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
When the economic levers go, political independence isn’t too far behind, after all.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
If the potatoes are hard to pull, use the shovel to carefully lever them out of the soil.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 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
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday will set the level of its benchmark interest rate, adjusting a major policy lever for the first time since a government shutdown sharply restricted the release of gold-standard federal data about the economy.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
When the economic levers go, political independence isn’t too far behind, after all.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Additionally, while largely associated with legacy energy projects, the company has levered into faster growing markets within its urban solutions segment, now 73% of its backlog compared to 37% in fiscal year 2021.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
If the potatoes are hard to pull, use the shovel to carefully lever them out of the soil.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 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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