exhausted
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
See tired 1.
Etymology
Origin of exhausted
First recorded in 1660–70; exhaust ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Up too late studying? Want nothing more than to get a little bit of sleep? Sounds like you're exhausted — all of your energy has been used up. Exhausted is spent, drained, and depleted. Though you might associate the word exhausted with people, it's a word that can be used to talk about anything that's depleted. You might want to continue traveling around Europe, but if your funds are exhausted, it's time to go home. If you're trying to get in touch with the airline so you can make a reservation for your homeward-bound trip, your patience may become exhausted after being placed on hold for hours.
Vocabulary lists containing exhausted
Excerpt from "Flipped"
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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Messenger
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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.
But she'd always wanted to visit Ireland, and she found herself exhausted by the local dating scene while navigating a career transition.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
"It's a heavy burden, economically and socially. Everyone is already exhausted, and naturally, they want to live in calm, in peace, to be safe."
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
Just like some people prefer aloof cats to Labrador retrievers, some people get exhausted by my extroversion and geeky enthusiasm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
“Yeah, I was pretty exhausted after the touchdown,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
He was exhausted, hungry and. frightened; and he desperately wanted Fa.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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.
