leveraged
🇺🇸 /ˈliːvɜrɪdʒd/
📖 Definitions
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adjective
Using borrowed capital or debt to increase the potential return on an investment or business activity.; Having a high proportion of debt relative to equity in a company's capital structure.; Utilizing or maximizing the use of available resources, advantages, or opportunities to achieve a greater effect.
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verb
Past tense and past participle of 'leverage': to use borrowed funds or financial instruments to amplify potential gains.; Past tense and past participle of 'leverage': to use something to maximum advantage or to exploit a resource effectively.; Past tense and past participle of 'leverage': to apply mechanical force using a lever or similar device.
🔗 Details
Word forms
uncountable
3rd sing.: leverages
Past: leveraged
Past part.: leveraged
Pres part.: leveraging
Collocations
leveraged buyoutleverage assetsleverage resourcesfinancial leverageleverage one's positionleverage technology
Derivatives
leveragedleveraging
Synonyms
exploitutilizecapitalize onharnessmake use of
Commonly confused
lever
EN: 'Lever' is the physical tool or bar used to gain mechanical advantage; 'leverage' is the abstract concept of using that advantage or borrowed capital.
leaver
EN: 'Leaver' is a person who leaves (e.g., early leaver from school); 'leverage' relates to gaining advantage or using resources.
Spelling tips
EN: Remember 'leverage' ends with '-age' (not '-ege' or '-ige'). The verb form 'leveraged' is sometimes mistakenly written as 'levered' when the intended meaning is about utilizing resources.
💬 Examples
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The company pursued a leveraged buyout to acquire its competitor.
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The highly leveraged firm struggled to meet its interest payments during the recession.
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She delivered a leveraged presentation that combined data from multiple departments.
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The investor leveraged his portfolio to maximize returns in the bull market.
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The team leveraged their existing network to expand into new markets.
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He leveraged the heavy stone out of the ground using a long metal bar.