exert

American  

[ig-zurt] / ɪgˈzɜrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to put forth or into use, as power; exercise, as ability or influence; put into vigorous action.

   to exert every effort.

2. to put (oneself ) into strenuous, vigorous action or effort.

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exert British  

/ ɪɡˈzɜːt /

verb

1. to use (influence, authority, etc) forcefully or effectively

2. to apply (oneself) diligently; make a strenuous effort

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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”

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.

Example Sentences

Faced with rising competitors in the 1980s, it introduced its famous quota system that enabled it to exert more control over the market.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

The land wasn’t empty, and Native American tribes fought fiercely to defend it in alliance with the British, leading Washington to dispatch multiple punitive expeditions to subdue them and exert American control.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Instead of bothering much about dialogue, “Fuze” is a blueprint of how stress and deference exert themselves upon a workplace.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Nowadays, the group can hardly exert control of areas within Yemen itself, and again, the intelligence community in 2025 and 2026 can only ascribe “intent” to the group and not actual attacks.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

To protect the home front, and exert control over it, Hitler created a homeland militia, the Volkssturm, or People’s Army.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Related Words

• apply
• bring to bear
• exercise
• expend
• strive
• utilize
• wield