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.
verb (used with object),lev·er·aged,lev·er·ag·ing.
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
First recorded in 1715–25; lever + -age
SYNONYMS FOR leverage
3 advantage, strength, weight; clout, pull.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR leverage ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM leverage
non·lev·er·aged,adjectiveun·lev·er·aged,adjective
Words nearby leverage
level playing field, level with someone, Leven, lever, lever action, leverage, leveraged buyout, lever escapement, leveret, Leverhulme, Leverkusen
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|Fortune
That 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|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.
Every country wants a covid-19 vaccine. Who will get it first?|Katie McLean|August 13, 2020|MIT Technology Review
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.
Is it time for Netflix subscribers to go on strike?|Nicolás Rivero|July 23, 2020|Quartz
However you decide to vote in the end, I thank those who continue to give us leverage to improve the bill.
Nancy Pelosi Plays Hardball On Cromnibus|Ben Jacobs|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
That they will leverage their voices and their power to make real change to improve gender diversity.