exhausted

American  

[ig-zaws-tid] / ɪgˈzɔs tɪd /

adjective

1. drained of strength or energy; worn-out.

   The illness left me exhausted, both psychologically and physically.

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Related Words

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.

Example Sentences

For expert Elisabeth Braw of the Atlantic Council, "it's a bit of a Hail Mary move" by Washington after it had "exhausted all options".

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

"This dramatic layering of young jets inside older, exhausted lobes is the signature of an episodic AGN -- a galaxy whose central engine keeps turning on and off over cosmic timescales."

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

When his children, Pista and Eva, take part in the failed 1956 revolution against the Soviet-backed government, Lajos is mostly an exhausted bystander.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

People might have lofty ambitions to read a great novel or learn how to play an instrument, but at the end of the day they turn on the TV because they’re exhausted.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The only things keeping him going were Nicole, who had to be more exhausted than he was, and Rashawn, who had turned out to be a bulldozer of will and endurance.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

Related Words

• dead
• drained
• weak
• weakened