How to Properly Use the Word “Leverage” in a Sentence

All languages (human-spoken or programming) are organic, or they continually grow and change with time. The English language is no exception to this rule, which is quite evident by the fact that how consistently its repository of words gets updated with new words or phrases. Despite the addition to the lexicon, the fundamental rules pertaining to using the various words in sentences or different writing scenarios do not change.

To properly use the word “leverage” in a sentence, know the context in which the word is used. It could assume different meanings based on the topic being discussed. Also, despite being primarily a noun, the word can also serve as a verb. Most importantly, do not place a preposition after “leverage”.

Continue reading to learn more about the verb, how it’s used in various topics or contexts, etc. Also listed below are example sentences to give you a better idea of how the word gets used in different forms of writing.

Leverage – Definition

Leverage is basically any constraint that renders backing out of a thing or situation difficult. It could be necessary to employ leverage to overcome certain psychological barriers that might be mitigating one from remaining focused on their actions. There are different ways to create “leverage”, and its meaning could vary too.

“Leverage” is often used in conjunction with an object since something needs to be “leveraged”. It has an exploitative connotation, which is not intended almost always.

As aforementioned, the word “leverage” could mean multiple things, based on the context it’s used in. It could mean:

• To enhance or improve
• Positional advantage, or the power to function effectively
• A lever’s mechanical advantages
• To use something to obtain a profit or an advantage
• To supplement

In financial terms, “leverage” means taking action to increase or boost financial security. Some of the other interpretations or meanings of the word in the business world are:

• Helping balance the debt of a company
• Making profits to look larger
• Financially backing up a new business
• Buying fixed assets or borrowing funds from another business or individual as a loan to generate more profits

In the world of physics and mechanics, “leverage” denotes a lever’s action or the mechanical benefit gained by it. In the political realm, it means “power” or “effectiveness” – as in trying to gain increased political leverage.

The following synonyms for the word should provide you some insight on how varied the meaning of “leverage” can be:

• clout
• authority
• heft
• credit
• influence
• pull
• weight
• sway

The above synonyms are nouns. The following are verb synonyms for the word:

• capitalize (on)
• abuse
• exploit
• cash in (on)
• milk
• impose (upon or on)
• use
• work
• play (upon or on)

Difference Between “Leverage” and “Margin”

The words “leverage” and “margin” are widely used in the world of finance – often to the point of getting interchanged (incorrectly). However, there is a fundamental and important difference in meaning between the two.

Leverage, as mentioned above, denotes taking on debt. Margin, on the other hand, is borrowed money or debt a business employs to invest in various other financial instruments.

A margin account lets you borrow funds from a broker at a fixed rate of interest to buy options, futures, or securities contracts hoping to benefit from high returns in the future. In short, margin can be used to create “leverage”.

How to Properly Use “Leverage” in a Sentence

“Leverage” gets used in different ways in sentences if the varied meanings of the word are any indication. It works primarily as a noun. Here are example sentences illustrating the same:

• His wealth offers him significant leverage within social circles.
• She is determined to acquire increased political leverage.
• Strategically position the wood piece to apply maximum leverage.

There are, however, scenarios where “leverage” could be used as a verb or transitive verb. The need to use it so, however, is few and far between.

Getting Confused Between “Leverage” and “Comprise”

Though the two words have different meanings and confusing one for another may seem highly unlikely, there are instances when both native and non-native English speakers get cloudy in their thoughts when contemplating using the two words in sentences.

The first thing to do to not confuse between the two terms is to clearly ascertain what the words mean. The verb “comprise” means “consist of”, “contain”, “entail”, etc.

The next thing to be very particular about is the preposition used with the words. The word “leverage” often means using one thing to procure another. Most writers know the meaning, but they stumble with its phrasing or when using the word in a range of sentences.

To ensure you don’t get stuck up with the word while writing, always remember this rule: “leverage” is never used with a preposition.

• I leveraged my finance knowledge to take the idea forward and execute it. (Correct)
• I leveraged on my finance knowledge to take the idea forward and execute it. (Incorrect)

When the word “leverage” is used in sentences to indicate what it’s based on, it’s implied. You need not use “on” or any other preposition with it to explicitly specify that.

Like “leverage”, the verb “comprise” too could present a prepositional conundrum. “Comprised” could be used with or without a preposition. For example:

• The team is comprised of 10 people.
• The team comprises 10 people.

Both the sentences above are grammatically correct.

But if the preposition is used with the wrong tense of the word or not used when it should have been used, the grammatical correctness would take a hit. For instance, the sentence below is grammatically wrong:

• The team is comprised 10 people.

Using “Leverage” as a Verb?

Though some purists of the language are against using “leverage” as a verb, there is enough evidence to prove “leverage” can be used as a verb. In the Oxford English Dictionary, in fact, leverage’s use as a verb has been well-documented.

In finance, “leveraging” means using loaned-in capital to invest in a business, for generating a profit greater than the owed interest. Using “leverage” as a verb is perhaps derived from the word’s use in the world of finance.

Example Sentences with the Word “Leverage”

Here is a fairly long list of sentences with the word “leverage” in them:

• While this attribute is a weakness, politicians could leverage the same to their benefits.
• The ideal candidates for the project are those who can readily leverage their current knowledge base.
• This approach would allow the firm to leverage particular third-party expertise, reducing both risk and cost.
• The company, for instance, recently employed the concept company-wide to leverage its benefits.
• The teams, as a result, may not be able to leverage the unique skills every member brings to the table.
• The amount of marketplace leverage there is in agencies, asset-backed, and mortgage-backs securities is yet to be determined.
• In addition, central billing offers the store increased leverage to negotiate.
• In marketing and business, trying to seize and leverage a trend is usually a good thing.
• Smart architects leverage quality products’ brand names to promote their properties.
• All boom periods have witnessed huge increases in corporate and personal leverage.
• Your penitent suffering offers us leverage for keeping the forces in abeyance.
• Since she cannot be at all places at once, she is leveraging her time.
• Various organizations have signed multiple agreements to leverage the benefits of working together.
• They intend to leverage more learning resources from third party sources.
• Once we are there, we will have all the needed leverage.
• We will further look into how to leverage existing technological infrastructure to enhance the continent’s higher education goals.
• You must leverage the network’s single sign-on features.
• This provides you and your company with a wonderful opportunity to gain competitive leverage within your sector.
• Learn to leverage the strength of the medium.
• He must compute the leverage ratios.
• Thankfully, he had leverage, and he saw he could require it to sail through the week.
• The size of the union provided enough leverage to the workers during the labor agreement negotiations.
• She could leverage investment from the private sector via loans.
• My brother is enjoying the limelight and leverage.
• The continuing pressure to go back to increasing leverage ratios and suppressing community-led development and local authority will be intense.

Conclusion

Though not the only way to communicate, language is a major tool to interact and converse. Even inanimate objects, such as computers, use language to communicate with their human users. Since language is extremely important, it’s equally crucial to employ it correctly, or as per the rulebook.

When using the term “leverage”, it becomes even more critical to use it correctly since the word has multiple meanings. The meaning it takes on ascertains how to use it and in what form. As mentioned above, “leverage” is not accompanied by a preposition like “comprise” right after. But based on whether it takes up its noun form or verb avatar, the grammatical tense would change.

In other words, “leverage” and “leveraged” mean the same but could be used differently in sentences. Be particularly wary of the same!