exhort
Americanverb (used with object)
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exhorts,
present (3rd person singular)
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exhorted,
past participle, past
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exhorting
present participle
verb (used without object)
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exhorts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
exhorted,
past participle, past
-
exhorting
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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exhortsimple
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exhortssimple
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have exhortedperfect
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has exhortedperfect
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am exhortingprogressive
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are exhortingprogressive
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is exhortingprogressive
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have been exhortingperfect progressive
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has been exhortingperfect progressive
Past
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exhortedsimple
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had exhortedperfect
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was exhortingprogressive
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were exhortingprogressive
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had been exhortingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exhort
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English ex(h)orte, from Latin exhortārī “to encourage greatly,” from ex- ex- 1 + hortārī “to encourage, urge”
Explanation
French roots for the word exhort mean "thoroughly encourage," so to exhort is to fill up with encouragement! "When he heard the crowd exhort him with stomping and cheers, he knew that he could finish the marathon." Some synonyms for exhort include stimulate, excite, and urge on. Words and shouts can exhort, and this is especially true when the recipient of those chants fears coming up short with an effort. Exhortations may make the difference between winning or losing and marching on or giving up. A sergeant might exhort his troops after a defeat just as a dad can exhort his daughter after a missed note during a piano recital.
Vocabulary lists containing exhort
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The Scarlet Letter
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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:
The performance casts such a spell of suggestive truthfulness that I had to exhort myself to pay attention to the other fine actors around her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2024
There was a time when he would commonly exhort Congress to pass border legislation:
From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2024
Her story appeared in Chinese social media despite digital and human censors and prompted commentators to exhort national media to highlight the scandal.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
Unlike Mr. Adams, who worked solo, dozens of drummers at Oakland Coliseum exhort the A’s from their seats in both left and right field.
From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2023
He would exhort her and he would tell her all that was in his heart and still she was gentle.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
Before he performs what was supposed to be his last song of the set, Elsesser exhorts the attendees to clap “one time for gratitude.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
Its anti-misogyny message—the refrain exhorts listeners to “think about it / do something about it”—was important to the couple.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025
Around every bend are tiny rewards - a copse of trees with the Olympic rings poking out, a tiny reflecting-pool shrine that exhorts people to “remember here those who gave their lives for peace.”
From Washington Times ● Sep. 23, 2023
Around every bend are tiny rewards — a copse of trees with the Olympic rings poking out, a tiny reflecting-pool shrine that exhorts people to “remember here those who gave their lives for peace.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 23, 2023
There’s nothing to do but try to ignore the nasty stuff soaking my foot and, as Ted exhorts us, work through it.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Until then, he exhorted his students to control their own destinies, likening AI personalization to the rudder on a sailboat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
“We all matter,” Nichols exhorted the gathering of thousands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
Speaking at Davos earlier, Zelensky exhorted Europe to do more to ensure its own security, saying: "Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action".
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026
Importantly, he exhorted artists to always remain true to themselves.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2026
Black newspapers, however, worked relentlessly to spread the word far and wide about available war jobs and exhorted their readers to apply.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Another man shouted on the phone, exhorting a family member to leave and that he would go in and take his stead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026
The show ends by exhorting visitors to help continue the Declaration’s journey.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025
Among those exhorting tourists to come to Pahalgam was Bollywood actor Atul Kulkarni, who visited the town days after the attack.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025
She wound it up by exhorting everyone to put their efforts into electing Barack Obama:
From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2024
He talked and talked, sometimes exhorting Chacho to come toward his voice, sometimes only rambling on about his childhood.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
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.
