leverage

CEFRB2

/ˈlɛv.(ə.)ɹɪd͡ʒ/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Power used to influence someone or achieve a result.

  2. 02

    verb

    To use something to gain an advantage or achieve a result.

Examples

  • Leverage is to debt as lever is to what?

  • What we need is leverage.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˈliːv.(ə.)ɹɪd͡ʒ/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Any influence which is compounded or used to gain an advantage.

  2. The use of borrowed funds with a contractually determined return to increase the ability to invest and earn an expected higher return, but usually at high risk.

  3. A force compounded by means of a lever rotating around a pivot.

More examples

In context

  • A crowbar uses leverage to pry nails out of wood.

  • Leverage is great until something goes wrong with your investments and you still have to pay your debts.

  • Try using competitors’ prices for leverage in the negotiation.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

By using its strong brand, the company can blank its market position.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From lever + -age. The verb likely comes from martial arts/judo usage, where one would "use an opponent's leverage (i.e. their weight, height, centre of balance, etc.)" against them in order to defeat them.