- present participle of exhaust.
exhausting
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exhausting
Explanation
Something that's exhausting tires or fatigues you. An exhausting hike up the side of a mountain leaves you gasping for breath and so tired you need to sit down and rest. Some things, like a rigorous workout or a difficult type of manual labor, are physically exhausting. Others are mentally exhausting, like a long argument with a friend or a tricky calculus exam. The adjective exhausting is rooted in the Latin exhaurire, "draw off, take away, use up, or empty," which perfectly describes how you feel after an exhausting experience.
Vocabulary lists containing exhausting
Spelling Practice 1, Unit 8
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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.
The story has elements similar to popular summer blockbusters, but they’re so finely remixed and retooled that they don’t bear such exhausting resemblance to their forebears.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
The role of Lumiere results in a lot of sweating — the showstopping “Be Our Guest” number alone is exhausting just to watch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Hot weather can make travel unpredictable, and access issues can waste valuable time on an already exhausting day.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Finding the perfect position appeasing those on either side of an issue is exhausting work and prone to error.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
Thyon Nero wasn’t the only one exhausting himself—though he was the only one siphoning off his own vital essence to do it.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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.
