deleverage

American  

[dee-lev-er-ij, ‑-lee-ver‑] / diˈlɛv ər ɪdʒ, ‑ˈli vər‑ /

verb (used without object)

deleveraged, deleveraging

1. to decrease financial leverage by paying off debt.

   Their balance sheet significantly improved after they deleveraged.

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verb (used with object)

deleveraged, deleveraging

1. to reduce the debt of.

   He drastically deleveraged the company to make it profitable.

noun

1. an instance of this.

   The economic crisis has forced a deleverage.

deleverage British  

/ diːˈlɛvərɪdʒ, -vrɪdʒ /

verb

1. finance (of an organization) to reduce the ratio of debt capital to equity capital

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Etymology

Origin of deleverage

First recorded in 1980–85; de- ( def. ) + leverage ( def. )

Example Sentences

The funds that adjust for volatility, meanwhile, will likely continue to deleverage but “with small impact,” they said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

Paramount will have nearly $80 billion in debt after the deal and plans to deleverage rapidly, a goal that has raised eyebrows up and down Wall Street.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

“FAT Brands plans to use the filings to deleverage the balance sheet, maximize value for its stakeholders, and support continued growth of its brands,” the statement showed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

Ng said the latest stimulus should help stabilise the home market and consumer confidence, allowing developers to deleverage less painfully, though more is needed to reverse a decline in income growth in a slowing economy.

From Reuters • Sep. 5, 2023

It would have the ability to deleverage in coming years, but an estimated $1.6 billion in year-end 2015 free cash flow would provide little margin for error.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015