to leverage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to leverage" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business or strategic context to indicate the act of using something to maximum advantage. Example: "We need to leverage our existing resources to improve efficiency and reduce costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They know how to leverage their wealth.

The New York Times

Abbas declined to leverage Fayyad's achievements.

The New York Times

President Obama needs to leverage this moment.

The New York Times

Our challenge is to leverage that now.

The New York Times - Sports

To leverage some of this information.

The New York Times - Tech

This encourages firms to leverage themselves heavily.

The New York Times

That brings us to leverage.

The New York Times

"We're retaining the ability to leverage WebOS".

The New York Times

We're here to leverage the brand.

The New York Times - Sports

Which is nice, but hard to leverage.

The Guardian

The corporations wanted Jordan to leverage their brands; Falk would use their brands to leverage Jordan.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to leverage", clearly identify what you are leveraging and what benefit you expect to gain. For example: "To leverage our brand recognition, we will launch a new product line."

Common error

Avoid using "to leverage" simply as business jargon without a clear understanding of its meaning. Ensure that its use adds specific meaning and isn't just a trendy substitute for "use" or "utilize".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to leverage" functions as an infinitive verb phrase, often serving as an object of another verb or as part of a verb phrase expressing intention or purpose. Ludwig confirms its proper grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to leverage" is a versatile and widely used expression, particularly in business, strategic, and technical contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and effective for conveying the strategic use of resources or opportunities to gain an advantage. While highly common, it's important to avoid overuse as mere jargon. Alternatives like "to capitalize on", "to utilize", and "to harness" offer nuanced options depending on the specific context. This guide provides insights into its proper usage, common pitfalls, and effective alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to utilize

A more formal way of saying to use something practically and effectively.

to capitalize on

Focuses on turning something into an advantage, often financially.

to maximize

Highlights the aim of achieving the greatest possible outcome from something.

to make the most of

Focuses on deriving maximum benefit from a situation or resource.

to take advantage of

Implies using something for one's benefit, sometimes with a nuance of opportunism.

to draw on

Implies using a resource or skill that one already possesses.

to harness

Emphasizes controlling and directing power or resources for a specific purpose.

to build upon

Suggests using an existing foundation to create something bigger or better.

to exploit

Suggests using something fully, possibly with negative connotations of overuse.

to amplify

Focuses on increasing the effect or impact of something.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "to leverage" in a sentence?

Use "to leverage" when you want to emphasize maximizing the advantage of a resource or situation. For example, instead of saying "We will use our data", try "We will "to leverage" our data to improve customer service".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "to leverage"?

You can use alternatives like "to capitalize on", "to utilize", or "to harness", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "to leverage" and "to exploit"?

While both involve using something, "to leverage" typically suggests a strategic and positive use, whereas "to exploit" often carries a negative connotation of using something unfairly or excessively.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use the phrase "to leverage"?

The phrase "to leverage" is most appropriate in business, strategic planning, or technical contexts where maximizing resources or advantages is key. Using it in informal conversations may sound unnatural.