exertion

[ig-zur-shuhn]

See more synonyms for exertion on Thesaurus.com

noun

vigorous action or effort: physical and mental exertion.
an effort: a great exertion to help others.
exercise, as of power or faculties.

an instance of this.

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Origin of exertion

First recorded in 1660–70; exert + -ion

Related formsnon·ex·er·tion, nounself-ex·er·tion, nounsu·per·ex·er·tion, noun

Synonyms

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1. endeavor, struggle, attempt, activity, strain. See effort.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

strain operation employment endeavor use utilization stretch effort labor application exercise travail toil struggle trouble attempt industry trial activity action

Examples from the Web for exertion

Contemporary Examples

Such an exertion can range from bringing Muslims closer to the faith to fostering social cohesion.
How U.S. Strikes on Syria Help al Qaeda
Barak Barfi
August 28, 2013

Historical Examples

He turned faint after the least exertion and had to leave off going to Mr. Hichens.
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
Belinda's prudence seemed to increase with the necessity for its exertion.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
The violence of the exertion cast the young Mohican at his side.
The Last of the Mohicans
James Fenimore Cooper
You may readily trust, my dear Sir, that any exertion in my power is heartily at your service.
The Letters of Robert Burns
Robert Burns
She was weary—weary from exertion and disappointment and foreboding.
Pee-wee Harris
Percy Keese Fitzhugh

Word Origin and History for exertion

n.

1660s, "act of exerting," from exert + -ion. Meaning "vigorous action or effort" is from 1777.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper