exhausted
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
See tired 1.
Etymology
Origin of exhausted
First recorded in 1660–70; exhaust ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Up too late studying? Want nothing more than to get a little bit of sleep? Sounds like you're exhausted — all of your energy has been used up. Exhausted is spent, drained, and depleted. Though you might associate the word exhausted with people, it's a word that can be used to talk about anything that's depleted. You might want to continue traveling around Europe, but if your funds are exhausted, it's time to go home. If you're trying to get in touch with the airline so you can make a reservation for your homeward-bound trip, your patience may become exhausted after being placed on hold for hours.
Vocabulary lists containing exhausted
Excerpt from "Flipped"
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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Messenger
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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.
"And when you get home, exhausted, there's no electricity," he complained.
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
“These are folks who have exhausted all other avenues to employment, and we create a path forward,” said Maura Porcelli, senior director of workforce at the National Council on Aging.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
He had to fight that way, Rozicki was exhausted after a couple of rounds but he kept coming.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
That is a sign selling pressure has exhausted itself before the stock attempts its next move.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
We were cold and dirty and exhausted, but at least we were full from the pies Martha had given us.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
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.
