Leverage — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈle-və-rij/ le·ver·age

Meaning & Definition of Leverage

Leverage (noun)

  1. influence or power used to achieve a desired result
  2. the action of a lever or the mechanical advantage gained by it
  3. the use of borrowed money to supplement capital or to increase the earning power of a relatively small investment

Leverage (verb)

  1. to provide (something, such as a corporation) or supplement (something, such as capital) with borrowed money
  2. to use (something, such as skills or influence) to achieve or enhance a desired result
  3. to use for gain, exploit

Leverage (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly

    "lacking much of the leverage it once had, the union is now being forced to make some concessions"

    similar: authority, clout, credit, heft, in, influence, juice (slang), pull, sway, weight
    related: counterinfluence, command, dominance, dominion, mastery, predominance, reign, scepter, sovereignty, supremacy, consequence, eminence, importance, moment, impact, impress, impression, imprint, mark
    near: helplessness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

Leverage (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take unfair advantage of

    "a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame"

    similar: abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, impose (on or upon), milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work, trade on, walk on
    related: jerk around, manipulate, mistreat, bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick, commercialize, commodify

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Leverage

The most common words with a similar meaning to Leverage:

Slang: juice
authority, clout, credit, heft, in, influence, pull, sway, weight, abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, impose (on or upon), milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work, trade on, walk on

Related Words for Leverage

counterinfluence, command, dominance, dominion, mastery, predominance, reign, scepter, sovereignty, supremacy, consequence, eminence, importance, moment, impact, impress, impression, imprint, mark, jerk around, manipulate, mistreat, bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick, commercialize

Near Antonyms of Leverage

helplessness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

Word Forms of Leverage

Inflections: leveraged, leveraging

Origin & Etymology of Leverage

First known use: 1724

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Leverage

  • Topics: Business & Economics

Frequently Asked Questions about Leverage

What does "Leverage" mean?

"Leverage" means influence or power used to achieve a desired result. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: influence or power used to achieve a desired result. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Leverage"?

Other words for "Leverage" include authority, clout, credit, heft, in, influence, juice and pull. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Leverage" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Leverage"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Leverage". Common alternatives include authority, clout, credit, heft, in, influence, juice, pull, sway and weight.

How do you use "Leverage" in a sentence?

Examples of "Leverage" in a sentence: "lacking much of the leverage it once had, the union is now being forced to make some concessions"; "a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame".

Is "Leverage" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Leverage" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Leverage"?

"Leverage" is pronounced /ˈle-və-rij/ and divided into syllables as le·ver·age.

What is the origin of the word "Leverage"?

First known use: 1724.

What is another word for "Leverage" meaning "the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly"?

When "Leverage" (noun) means the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly, synonyms include authority, clout, credit, heft, in and influence.