exert
Americanverb (used with object)
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exerts,
present (3rd person singular)
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exerted,
past participle, past
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exerting
present participle
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to put forth or into use, as power; exercise, as ability or influence; put into vigorous action.
to exert every effort.
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to put (oneself ) into strenuous, vigorous action or effort.
verb
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to use (influence, authority, etc) forcefully or effectively
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to apply (oneself) diligently; make a strenuous effort
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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exertionnoun
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superexertverb (used with object)
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exertiveadjective
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nonexertiveadjective
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unexertedadjective
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well-exertedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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exertsimple
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exertssimple
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have exertedperfect
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has exertedperfect
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am exertingprogressive
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are exertingprogressive
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is exertingprogressive
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have been exertingperfect progressive
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has been exertingperfect progressive
Past
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exertedsimple
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had exertedperfect
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was exertingprogressive
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were exertingprogressive
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had been exertingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exert
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin ex(s)ertus, past participle of exserere “to thrust out,” from ex- ex- 1 + serere “to connect, join together”
Explanation
Exert basically means to put forth effort to do something. For example, when you exert yourself in a workout, you can really feel the burn in your muscles. The Latin verb exserere — with its derivative form exsertus, which is the source of our word — means to "put forth." That's where exert gets its meaning of physical force — consider that when you try hard at something, you put forth effort to do it, you push yourself. But exert can refer to other ways you "push": you exert your influence to convince others to think your way; when one nation exerts its power on another; and gravity exerts its force on us, holding us down on earth.
Vocabulary lists containing exert
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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:
“Because we lose the ability to exert force quickly as we get older. Plyometrics — involving motor control, coordination, agility and reactivity — trains quick responses.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
In a sport where the peloton used to pick its moments to exert energy, today's racing is "full gas from the word go" as riders try to find pace advantages in all areas of stages.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Farther above, at altitudes of several hundred kilometers, traces of Earth's upper atmosphere can still exert enough drag to slow satellites.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
That kind of multibillion-dollar commitment isn’t something a company does if it intends to exert market power over suppliers or distributors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Yet there was one area in which she failed to exert any influence on me: religion.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
The governor exerts much control over education priorities through the state budget.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
If one spouse exerts control and the other is disengaged or kept out of the loop, filing tax returns can inflame tensions and drive a wedge into the relationship.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 5, 2026
To determine how GPLD1 exerts its effects, the team focused on what the enzyme does best.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 20, 2026
That size, along with the amount of control Beijing exerts over state banks, gives it unique capabilities.
From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025
Ben came out then, his bedhead seeming to challenge our basic understanding of the force gravity exerts upon matter.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
The top U.S. cities exerted their influence as centers of commerce, trade, finance and dissent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
The High Court ruled Mahek's "youth and her acknowledged immaturity were given far too little weight", and should have "exerted a substantial downward pressure on the minimum term".
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Lai also said China "exerted pressure" on Japan and the Philippines during their negotiations over maritime boundaries in waters east of Taiwan.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
“Change” exerted on another through force robs the receiving party of the dignity of authoring their own life path.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
At night she'd brought the children into her bed, then exerted herself fruitlessly toward sleep.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Freeman describes Lilley as a friend, and an anonymous email sent to City Council in 2024 complained their socializing “could be perceived as exerting undue influence or favoritism.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
Bowman also said the surge in artificial-intelligence-related investment may be exerting some supply-chain pressures, but that strong productivity growth may put some downward pressure on inflation because of lower production costs in the medium term.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
"It will take a long time before such economic pain forces Iran to compromise," Ingram said, explaining it is "more likely economic disruption... pushes China into exerting more pressure on Iran to negotiate".
From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026
I’m not exerting as much energy unless of course she has me come out, falling all over the floor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2026
Llewelyn said he needed to stretch his neck after exerting his body defeating the shadows.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
