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View synonyms for leverage

leverage

[ lev-er-ij, lee-ver- ]

noun

  1. the action of a lever, a rigid bar that pivots about one point and that is used to move an object at a second point by a force applied at a third.
  2. the mechanical advantage or power gained by using a lever.
  3. power or ability to act or to influence people, events, decisions, etc.; sway:

    Being the only industry in town gave the company considerable leverage in its union negotiations.

    Synonyms: pull, clout, weight, strength, advantage

  4. the use of a small initial investment, credit, or borrowed funds to gain a very high return in relation to one's investment, to control a much larger investment, or to reduce one's own liability for any loss.


verb (used with object)

, lev·er·aged, lev·er·ag·ing.
  1. to use (a quality or advantage) to obtain a desired effect or result:

    She was able to leverage her travel experience and her gift for languages to get a job as a translator.

  2. to provide with leverage:

    The board of directors plans to leverage two failing branches of the company with an influx of cash.

  3. to invest or arrange (invested funds) using leverage.
  4. to exert power or influence on:

    It was Joe who leveraged her to change her habits.

leverage

/ -vrɪdʒ; ˈliːvərɪdʒ; ˈlɛv- /

noun

  1. the action of a lever
  2. the mechanical advantage gained by employing a lever
  3. power to accomplish something; strategic advantage
  4. the enhanced power available to a large company

    the supermarket chains have greater leverage than single-outlet enterprises

  5. US word for gearing
  6. the use made by a company of its limited assets to guarantee the substantial loans required to finance its business


leverage

  1. The amount in which a purchase is paid for in borrowed money. The greater the leverage, the greater the possible gain or potential loss.


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Other Words From

  • non·lever·aged adjective
  • un·lever·aged adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of leverage1

First recorded in 1715–25; lever + -age

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Example Sentences

Some observers have said China may have been holding the shipment as leverage to pressure Canada to send Meng Wanzhou, a former Huawei executive and daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, back to China.

From Fortune

That leverage could come in joining the growing chorus of anti-Apple disquiet.

From Digiday

“Having decided that it would rather enjoy the benefits of the App Store without paying for them, Epic has breached its contracts with Apple, using its own customers and Apple’s users as leverage,” Apple said in a court filing Friday.

From Fortune

Alliances are already shifting, with leverage going to countries that can create vaccines, test them, manufacture bulk ingredients, and perform the “fill and finish” bottling.

The researchers call this form of collective action a “data strike,” and say it might help average internet users gain some leverage against major tech companies.

From Quartz

Democrats split over moves to weaken Wall Street reforms, and Republicans pouted over lost leverage.

However you decide to vote in the end, I thank those who continue to give us leverage to improve the bill.

Now, the key is to hold on to that sentiment and use the popular support as leverage.

That they will leverage their voices and their power to make real change to improve gender diversity.

At that age I had little leverage other than work ethic, intense loyalty to the president, and the strength of my ideas.

I bent over and put my hands on my knees to get better leverage just as I had the very first time, but the sheet would not tear.

The chain is then placed over the sprockets and a leverage equal to any pipe wrench is secured.

On the extreme end of the spar the leverage would be so great that he could not hope to cling there with arms and legs.

He recognized their double leverage, for if they succeeded in felling even one tree McLean became liable for his wager.

"The way we do here," "the thing we stand for," constitutes a moral leverage that removes mountains.

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lever actionleveraged buyout