lever
lever
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for lever is /ˈlɛvər/.
lev- (/lɛv/): The first syllable begins with the /l/ sound (as in light), followed by the /ɛ/ vowel (as in dress), and ends with the /v/ sound (as in van).
-er (/ər/): The second, unstressed syllable is the "schwa-r" sound, /ər/, which is common in words like teacher or water.
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: lever
Plural Noun: levers
Present Tense Verb: lever / levers
Past Tense Verb: levered
Present Participle: levering
Adjective: levered
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A rigid bar or rod that pivots at a fixed point (a fulcrum) used to move a heavy object or apply force; one of the six classical simple machines. ⚙️
A tool or means of influence used to gain an advantage or achieve a desired outcome.
Synonyms: influence, leverage, advantage, instrument, bargaining chip
Antonyms: disadvantage, handicap, weakness, impediment
Verb
To move, lift, or force something open using a lever.
Synonyms: pry, prize, jimmy, hoist, force, lift
Antonyms: secure, fasten, anchor, drop
To use a particular resource or advantage to achieve a maximum effect.
Synonyms: leverage, exploit, utilize, capitalize on, apply
Antonyms: waste, squander, neglect
Examples of Use
Here are several real-world examples of how the word lever is used across various platforms.
Literature
In classic writings on mechanics, the power of this simple machine is famously captured in a quote attributed to the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes: "Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." This illustrates the principle of mechanical advantage.
News & Online Publications
The term is frequently used figuratively in political and economic reporting to describe a tool of influence. For example, an article might state: "The Federal Reserve's primary lever for controlling inflation is adjusting the federal funds rate, which influences borrowing costs across the economy" (The Wall Street Journal, May 2024).
Film
In the movie Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, a physical lever is central to a key scene. Indiana Jones places the Staff of Ra into a specific slot in the Map Room, using it as a lever-like tool that, when struck by sunlight at the right time, reveals the location of the Well of the Souls.
Video Games
Levers are a fundamental and ubiquitous puzzle mechanic in video games. 🎮 In countless adventure and role-playing games, such as The Legend of Zelda series or God of War, a player will encounter a cryptic inscription that reads, "Pull the lever to open the ancient gate," making it a classic trope for progressing through a level.
General Public Discourse
In business and negotiation, the word is commonly used to refer to a point of advantage. One might hear in a meeting: "Our patent portfolio gives us a significant lever in the merger discussions. We can use it to demand better terms." This highlights using an asset to exert pressure and achieve a favorable outcome.
10 Famous Quotes Using Lever
Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. (Archimedes)
The pen is the great lever that moves the world. (Edward Bulwer-Lytton)
Reason is the only lever that can move the world. (Robert G. Ingersoll)
The press is the great lever of public opinion. (Daniel O'Connell)
The lever of power is in the hands of the people. (Ferdinand Lassalle)
Art is the lever that can move the world. (Leo Tolstoy)
Slavery is the great and controlling lever by which the South is moved. (John C. Calhoun)
The urge for destruction is also a creative urge, the great lever of all cultural progress. (Mikhail Bakunin)
Imagination is the lever of all the faculties. (Étienne Bonnot de Condillac)
In the digital age, data has become the ultimate lever for influencing markets and minds alike. (Original)
Etymology
The word lever has a simple and logical origin that directly describes what it does: it lifts. Its journey into English is a clear path through Latin and French.
From Latin Roots
The ultimate source of lever is the Latin verb levare, which means "to raise," "to lighten," or "to lift up." This root is the ancestor of many modern English words that share a similar idea of "lifting," such as:
Elevate: to lift up
Levitate: to rise or float
Relieve: to "lift" a burden from someone
Alleviate: to lighten or make less severe
Journey into English
From Latin, the word passed into Old French as leveor, which literally meant "a lifter" or "a raiser"—the person or thing that does the lifting. English borrowed the word directly from French around the late 13th century, and it has kept a very similar form and meaning ever since.
First Use and Meaning
When lever first appeared in the English language, its meaning was strictly mechanical. It referred to the physical tool we know today: a bar used with a pivot point (a fulcrum) to lift a heavy object with less effort.
It wasn't until the 1600s that the word developed its common figurative meaning, where a lever refers to a means of influence used to achieve a goal (e.g., "using new data as a lever in negotiations").
Phrases + Idioms Containing Lever
Phrases Using "Lever"
Pull the right lever(s): To take the most effective action to achieve a desired outcome.
A political / economic lever: A tool (like taxation or interest rates) used by a government to influence the political or economic landscape.
A lever for change: A person, idea, or event that acts as a catalyst for significant transformation.
Use as a negotiating lever: To employ an advantage or asset to secure better terms in a discussion or deal.
A key lever of power: A primary source of influence or control within a system or organization.
Idioms with a Similar Meaning
Pull the strings: To be the one in control of a situation or organization, often secretly.
An ace in the hole: A hidden advantage or resource kept in reserve until needed.
A bargaining chip: An issue or concession that can be traded to gain something else in a negotiation.
Get a foot in the door: To secure an initial opportunity that can be used to achieve greater success.
The thin end of the wedge: A seemingly small initial action that will lead to a much larger, more significant development.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of eagle from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
