exert
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to put forth or into use, as power; exercise, as ability or influence; put into vigorous action.
to exert every effort.
-
to put (oneself ) into strenuous, vigorous action or effort.
verb
-
to use (influence, authority, etc) forcefully or effectively
-
to apply (oneself) diligently; make a strenuous effort
Other Word Forms
- exertion noun
- exertive adjective
- nonexertive adjective
- superexert verb (used with object)
- unexerted adjective
- well-exerted adjective
Etymology
Origin of exert
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin ex(s)ertus, past participle of exserere “to thrust out,” from ex- ex- 1 + serere “to connect, join together”
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.
A failure to exert scoreboard pressure led to a snowball effect and a game that was quickly out of reach.
From BBC
Speaking on Tuesday's fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that China had a "significant opportunity" to exert influence on Russia over the Ukraine war.
From Barron's
Here, Beethoven exerts a compulsion for triumphant glory.
From Los Angeles Times
The goal is to determine when and how ionospheric disturbances might exert meaningful electrostatic effects on the Earth's crust.
From Science Daily
Bloomberg has reported that regulators also are trying to determine whether Netflix has exerted leverage over creators in negotiations when acquiring programming to build its catalog.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
