Like it or not, it is a verb (as well as a noun). The OED agrees. No amount of FUCKINGs will change that
verb [with object] 1 use borrowed capital for (an investment), expecting the profits made to be greater than the interest payable: without clear legal title to their assets, they own property that cannot be leveraged as collateral for loans you can leverage your stock portfolio and diversify into real estate. 2 use (something) to maximum advantage: the organization needs to leverage its key resources.