exertion

American  

[ig-zur-shuhn] / ɪgˈzɜr ʃən /

noun

exertions plural

1. vigorous action or effort.

   physical and mental exertion.

   Synonyms:

   strain, activity, attempt, struggle, endeavor

2. an effort.

   a great exertion to help others.

3. exercise, as of power or faculties.

4. an instance of this.

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Synonym Usage

See effort.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonexertion
  noun
• self-exertion
  noun
• superexertion
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• exertions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of exertion

First recorded in 1660–70; exert + -ion

Explanation

Exertion is effort. Exercise requires physical exertion. Listening to great jazz requires mental exertion. What kind of exertion does jazzercise require? Perhaps too much. Ex– means out. Exertion means energy is coming out — so much so that when you’re done, you may feel exhausted. The opposite of ex- is in-, as in inertia — something you need exertion to overcome.

Example Sentences

The net effect is that our heart delivers less blood and oxygen to our muscles, and our capacity for physical exertion drops.

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

She tries to control her symptoms by using pacing techniques - a strategy that balances rest and exertion to minimise post-exertional malaise.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

“Our power of thermoregulation meant that we . . . were able to operate at higher levels of exertion in hot conditions, and sustain a higher body temperature, than nearly all other mammals.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

By changing the information traveling from the muscles to the brain, vibration appears to reshape how movement and exertion are perceived.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2026

But now, even the ends of his fur seemed to ache from the exertion of paddling.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman