le·ver·age
ˈle-və-rij 
ˈlē-;
ˈlev-rij,
ˈlēv-
1
: the action of a lever or the mechanical advantage gained by it
2
: power, effectiveness
trying to gain more political leverage
3
: the use of credit to enhance one's speculative capacity
leveraged; leveraging
1
: to provide (something, such as a corporation) or supplement (something, such as money) with leverage
also
: to enhance as if by supplying with financial leverage
2
: to use for gain : exploit
shamelessly leverage the system to their advantage—
Alexander Wolff
Alexander WolffExamples of leverage in a Sentence
Noun
The union's size gave it leverage in the labor contract negotiations.
The player's popularity has given him a great deal of leverage with the owners of the team.
I used the leverage of the bar and a wooden block to pry the rock out of the hole.
Verb
The company wants to leverage its brands more effectively.
a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame
Recent Examples on the Web
Dave Smith, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
This design reportedly offers a stronger grip and better leverage.
—Ben Coxworth
october 10, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
Three publicists launched a Twitter account called Ibismania in 2011, leveraging the club’s reputation to mock other teams.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leverage
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Noun
China’s control of the rare earth sector gives it key leverage in negotiations, with curbs now announced on all but five of the 17 metallic elements.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
This design reportedly offers a stronger grip and better leverage.
—Ben Coxworth
october 10, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Managers are using the tech to sift through thousands of applicants, and job candidates are leveraging the tools to crank out their cover letters as the job hunt turned into a numbers game.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
Three publicists launched a Twitter account called Ibismania in 2011, leveraging the club’s reputation to mock other teams.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leverage
Cite this Entry
“Leverage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leverage. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
leverage
1 of 2 noun
le·ver·age
ˈle-vrij, -və-rij
: the use of credit to enhance one's speculative capacity
leverage
2 of 2 transitive verb
leveraged; leveraging
: to provide (as a corporation) or supplement (as money) with leverage
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