exert
Americanverb (used with object)
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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
- exertion noun
- exertive adjective
- nonexertive adjective
- superexert verb (used with object)
- unexerted adjective
- well-exerted adjective
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”
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.
They intend to use tools such as electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging to see how tendon vibration influences neural activity while people are exerting themselves.
From Science Daily
Rarely if ever has a U.S. president been in such a position to exert influence over the global energy market.
From Barron's
"That allows us to exert tremendous leverage over what happens next," he said on CBS.
From Barron's
The unusual motions of galaxies and the stars within them suggest that large amounts of unseen matter are exerting gravitational pull.
From Science Daily
Lifordi is developing an ADC to steer glucocorticoids directly to target immune cells, where they exert their benefits, and away from other cells and tissues.
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.
