verb
leveraging
LEE-vuh-rij-ing or LEV-uh-rij-ing
Leveraging (verb) means present participle of leverage: using something you already have to get the greatest possible benefit or advantage from it. Example: “The charity is leveraging its celebrity supporters to reach a younger audience.”
verb
1
Present participle of leverage: using something you already have to get the greatest possible benefit or advantage from it.
"The charity is leveraging its celebrity supporters to reach a younger audience."
"By leveraging existing customer data, they cut their advertising spend in half."
2
Present participle of leverage in finance: using borrowed money to increase the potential return on an investment.
"The fund was leveraging its position with short-term debt when the market turned."
noun
1
The practice of borrowing money to fund an investment, or of using an existing asset to gain further advantage.
"Aggressive leveraging left the company exposed when interest rates rose."
How to use leveraging
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGetting the most out of something you already have.
When to use it
Very common in business and marketing writing; can sound like jargon in ordinary prose.
Memory tip
In finance the related adjective is "leveraged" — a leveraged buyout is one funded largely by borrowing.
Easily confused with
utilising
exploiting
capitalising on
Common pairings
leveraging technology
leveraging our expertise
leveraging relationships
leveraging data
highly leveraged
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like leveraging.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The charity is _____ its celebrity supporters to reach a younger audience.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for leveraging
aging
raging
paging
imaging
staging
damaging
engaging
managing
foraging
packaging
rummaging
massaging
See all rhymes for leveraging →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between leveraging and using?
"Using" simply means employing something. "Leveraging" implies that a small resource is being applied to produce a disproportionately large result, in the way a lever multiplies force. In everyday writing, "using" is often the clearer word.
Is leveraging a real word or business jargon?
It is a real, dictionary-recognised word, but it is heavily associated with corporate speech and is often criticised as jargon when it stands in for a plainer verb. It is unobjectionable in finance, where it has a precise technical meaning.
How do you pronounce leveraging?
Both LEE-ver-ij-ing and LEV-er-ij-ing are accepted. The short-e version is more common in British English, the long-e version in American English.
What is the meaning of leveraging?
"leveraging" (verb) means present participle of leverage: using something you already have to get the greatest possible benefit or advantage from it.
