exhort
Americanverb (used with object)
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exhorts,
present (3rd person singular)
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exhorted,
past participle, past
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exhorting
present participle
verb (used without object)
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exhorts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
exhorted,
past participle, past
-
exhorting
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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exhortsimple
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exhortssimple
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have exhortedperfect
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has exhortedperfect
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am exhortingprogressive
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are exhortingprogressive
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is exhortingprogressive
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have been exhortingperfect progressive
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has been exhortingperfect progressive
Past
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exhortedsimple
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had exhortedperfect
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was exhortingprogressive
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were exhortingprogressive
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had been exhortingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exhort
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English ex(h)orte, from Latin exhortārī “to encourage greatly,” from ex- ex- 1 + hortārī “to encourage, urge”
Explanation
French roots for the word exhort mean "thoroughly encourage," so to exhort is to fill up with encouragement! "When he heard the crowd exhort him with stomping and cheers, he knew that he could finish the marathon." Some synonyms for exhort include stimulate, excite, and urge on. Words and shouts can exhort, and this is especially true when the recipient of those chants fears coming up short with an effort. Exhortations may make the difference between winning or losing and marching on or giving up. A sergeant might exhort his troops after a defeat just as a dad can exhort his daughter after a missed note during a piano recital.
Vocabulary lists containing exhort
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The Scarlet Letter
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The chorus, which appears in the final movement to exhort us to cease trembling and prepare to live, proved its own inspiration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2025
There was a time when he would commonly exhort Congress to pass border legislation:
From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2024
Her story appeared in Chinese social media despite digital and human censors and prompted commentators to exhort national media to highlight the scandal.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
Unlike Mr. Adams, who worked solo, dozens of drummers at Oakland Coliseum exhort the A’s from their seats in both left and right field.
From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2023
They may exhort potential customers to “Compare Our Prices! ” but they’re not eager to have workers do the same with wages.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
“Badlands,” where Springsteen exhorts, “talk about a dream, try to make it real,” comes after “Tom Joad” as a counterbalance to the tale of hope and despair that precedes it.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
Her best friend, Max, who was unofficially adopted by Suzanna’s parents and is shellacked in cynicism as played by the excellent Alden Ehrenreich, exhorts her to pull herself together and face her “big girl problems.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026
On record, “Express Yourself” is a battering ram of industrial-funk encouragement; it exhorts the listener to create his or her own destiny.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
Around every bend are tiny rewards - a copse of trees with the Olympic rings poking out, a tiny reflecting-pool shrine that exhorts people to “remember here those who gave their lives for peace.”
From Washington Times ● Sep. 23, 2023
There’s nothing to do but try to ignore the nasty stuff soaking my foot and, as Ted exhorts us, work through it.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Official propaganda exhorted citizens to face their lives and their duty to the Fatherland with endurance and perseverance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
Speaking at Davos earlier, Zelensky exhorted Europe to do more to ensure its own security, saying: "Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action".
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026
Importantly, he exhorted artists to always remain true to themselves.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2026
“How will she remember this?” she exhorted her students.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
Teachers exhorted us to be like him, to lift ourselves from poverty by our bootstraps.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
The show ends by exhorting visitors to help continue the Declaration’s journey.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025
After exhorting his team to meet fear, fatigue and pressure with energy, Bunting did the same.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2025
He’s constantly exhorting players during timeouts to dig deep and play tough defense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2025
She wound it up by exhorting everyone to put their efforts into electing Barack Obama:
From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2024
Indeed, the act of exhorting was designed to enhance the prospect by talking about it as if it were a foregone conclusion, which Washington most assuredly knew it was not.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
