I. ˈle-və-rij, ˈlē-; ˈlev-rij, ˈlēv- noun
Date: 1830
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
II. transitive verb
( -aged ; -ag·ing )
Date: 1957
1. : to provide (as a corporation) or supplement (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