Synonym Usage
See effort.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of exertion
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.
Vocabulary lists containing exertion
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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:
As in various countries, authorities there urged citizens to take extra care of vulnerable people, drink water and avoid exertion at the hottest hours.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
They would appear at seemingly random times: sometimes after physical exertion, but also sometimes after sitting still.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
Keenan had suffered rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening medical emergency caused by rapid, extensive skeletal muscle breakdown, which can be brought on by extreme exertion.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
The Los Angeles County medical examiner said the cause of death stemmed from the combined effects of physical exertion, environmental heat exposure, blunt trauma and COVID-19 infection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026
“Your son must stay in bed. There should be no physical exertion at all,” the doctor told my mother.
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
For Britain's Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, who withdrew from the meeting after her exertions in taking continental silver behind Werro in Birmingham, it only emphasised the challenge she faces in the event.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Newcastle's exertions in securing a 1-1 draw away to European champions Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, while Liverpool cruised to a 6-0 win over Qarabag at home in the Champions League, showed after the break.
From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026
But Celtic faded badly in the second period after their midweek European exertions as Hearts filled the home crowd with belief that the Old Firm stranglehold can be broken.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2025
Forging new records in Europe with a famous win in Bordeaux and a first-ever European Champions Cup semi-final, they fell away after those exertions to miss out on the Premiership play-offs again.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2024
We stood back, breathless from our exertions, compelled as always to wait and watch the dreadful Carleton while he performed the ritual of inspection.
From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl
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.
