leverage
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.
the mechanical advantage or power gained by using a lever.
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.
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.
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.
to provide with leverage: The board of directors plans to leverage two failing branches of the company with an influx of cash.
to invest or arrange (invested funds) using leverage.
to exert power or influence on: It was Joe who leveraged her to change her habits.
Origin of leverage
1Other words for leverage
Other words from leverage
- non·lev·er·aged, adjective
- un·lev·er·aged, adjective
Words Nearby leverage
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use leverage in a sentence
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.
Canada moves on from vaccine partnership with China, blaming it for delaying critical shipment | Grady McGregor | August 28, 2020 | FortuneThat leverage could come in joining the growing chorus of anti-Apple disquiet.
Publishers could soon have more leverage to force Apple to relax its ‘my way or the highway’ approach | Lara O'Reilly | August 25, 2020 | 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.
Apple fires back at Epic Games, saying it sought ‘side’ deal on Fortnite fee | Verne Kopytoff | August 21, 2020 | FortuneAlliances are already shifting, with leverage going to countries that can create vaccines, test them, manufacture bulk ingredients, and perform the “fill and finish” bottling.
Every country wants a covid-19 vaccine. Who will get it first? | Katie McLean | August 13, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewThe 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.
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.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall | Jacob Siegel | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat they will leverage their voices and their power to make real change to improve gender diversity.
Tech’s Male ‘Feminists’ Aren’t Helping | Cate Huston, Karen Catlin | December 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAt that age I had little leverage other than work ethic, intense loyalty to the president, and the strength of my ideas.
The Valerie Jarrett I Know: How She Saved the Obama Campaign and Why She’s Indispensable | Joshua DuBois | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI 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 Professional Approach | Charles Leonard HarnessThe chain is then placed over the sprockets and a leverage equal to any pipe wrench is secured.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousOn the extreme end of the spar the leverage would be so great that he could not hope to cling there with arms and legs.
Blow The Man Down | Holman DayHe recognized their double leverage, for if they succeeded in felling even one tree McLean became liable for his wager.
Freckles | Gene Stratton-Porter"The way we do here," "the thing we stand for," constitutes a moral leverage that removes mountains.
The Minister and the Boy | Allan Hoben
British Dictionary definitions for leverage
/ (ˈliːvərɪdʒ, -vrɪdʒ, ˈlɛv-) /
the action of a lever
the mechanical advantage gained by employing a lever
power to accomplish something; strategic advantage
the enhanced power available to a large company: the supermarket chains have greater leverage than single-outlet enterprises
US word for gearing (def. 3)
the use made by a company of its limited assets to guarantee the substantial loans required to finance its business
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for leverage
The amount in which a purchase is paid for in borrowed money. The greater the leverage, the greater the possible gain or potential loss.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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