leverage
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the power to influence people or events to get what you want.
n.strategic advantage or the power to act effectively in a negotiation or situation.
Simple“The union has a lot of leverage because the company cannot find enough workers.”
In context“The small nation gained significant diplomatic leverage by controlling the only deep-water port in the region.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'have', 'gain', or 'use'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.the use of borrowed money to buy an investment, hoping the profit will be more than the interest.
n.the use of credit or borrowed capital to increase the potential return of an investment.
Simple“The company used high leverage to buy its competitor, which made the bank nervous.”
In context“Aggressive financial leverage can amplify gains during a market upswing, but it also exposes the firm to catastrophic risks if asset values decline.”
UsageIn British English, this concept is often referred to as 'gearing'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the extra force you get by using a lever to move something heavy.
n.the mechanical advantage gained by using a lever or a similar physical system.
Simple“A longer handle on the wrench provides more leverage to turn the bolt.”
In context“The design of the crowbar maximises leverage, allowing a single operator to lift weights far beyond their natural strength.”
Synonymsmechanical advantageforce - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to use something you already have to achieve something new or better.
v.to exploit an existing asset, relationship, or resource to its fullest potential.
Simple“We can leverage our social media following to promote the new product.”
In context“The university seeks to leverage its research reputation to attract more international funding for the engineering department.”
Teacher's tipWhile common in business and academic contexts, some style guides discourage using 'leverage' as a verb, preferring 'use' or 'exploit'.
“Furthermore, Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz is a major piece of leverage, experts say.”
“It has been most acutely felt by people who used leverage - a form of borrowing in the financial markets.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.