exhaust

1 of 2

verb

ex·​haust ig-ˈzȯst How to pronounce exhaust (audio)
exhausted; exhausting; exhausts

transitive verb

1
a
: to consume entirely : use up
exhausted our funds in a week
b
: to tire extremely or completely
exhausted by overwork
c
: to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent
exhaust a soil of fertility
2
a
: to draw off or let out completely
b
: to empty by drawing off the contents
specifically : to create a vacuum in
3
a
: to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely
b
: to try out the whole number of
exhausted all the possibilities

intransitive verb

: discharge, empty
the engine exhausts through the muffler
exhauster noun
exhaustibility noun
exhaustible adjective

exhaust

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: the escape of used gas or vapor from an engine
b
: the gas or vapor thus escaping
2
a
: the conduit through which used gases escape
b
: an arrangement for removing fumes, dusts, or odors from an enclosure
3
Choose the Right Synonym for exhaust

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency.

deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

tire, weary, fatigue, exhaust, jade mean to make or become unable or unwilling to continue.

tire implies a draining of one's strength or patience.

the long ride tired us out

weary stresses tiring until one is unable to endure more of the same thing.

wearied of the constant arguing

fatigue suggests great lassitude from excessive strain or undue effort.

fatigued by the day's chores

exhaust implies complete draining of strength by hard exertion.

shoveling snow exhausted him

jade suggests the loss of all freshness and eagerness.

appetites jaded by overindulgence

Examples of exhaust in a Sentence

Verb If they keep spending this way, they'll exhaust their savings. He can talk about baseball for hours and still feel that he hasn't exhausted the subject. Noun diesel exhaust from passing trucks There's a problem with the car's exhaust.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Or exhausting monologue vamps on how nobody saw any of the nominees? Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 The resulting inefficiencies would drive costs higher for U.S. consumers already exhausted by three years of high inflation. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 The kids are creative, smart, energetic, quirky, weird, nerdy and filled with exhausting enthusiasm. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately, Russia’s looming manpower challenges in 2025 and beyond will matter very little if the brute-force tactics of Russian troops exhaust and overwhelm Ukrainian units in 2024. Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 Red giants form when stars have exhausted their supply of hydrogen for nuclear fusion and begin to die. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 Under pressure from multinational food manufacturers, whose processing plants dwarf even the biggest family farms in western Belgium, farmers are likely to stick with the industrial methods that exhaust soils and pollute waterways, Maes fears. Raf Casert, Quartz, 25 Feb. 2024 By the time the Russians took Bakhmut, their forces were exhausted, and the Wagner mercenary group that led the fight was in open rebellion against the Russian ministry of defense. Josh Holder, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 How was she not exhausted from countless outfit changes and glam sessions over about 12 hours? Kara Nesvig, Allure, 16 Feb. 2024
Noun
Some of the lint is caught by the dryer’s lint trap, but some gets into the dryer’s exhaust system and dryer vent. USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024 The 2024 Ford Mustang GT sports coupe, with its V8 and snarly, soothing exhaust note can win over even automobile owners for whom only reliability previously mattered. James Raia, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 Dodge has applied for patents on both the front wing design and the noise-making exhaust system. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 With an aging audience in decline, the familiar thrum of its potato-potato V-twin exhaust note was becoming irrelevant. Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 Diesel particulate filters therefore are installed in the exhaust system, generally at the exit of the catalytic converter. IEEE Spectrum, 27 Feb. 2024 The new inline 6 is engineered to work with the 8-speed auto for smooth, lag-free power delivery, a broad torque band, and an appealing exhaust note, despite the loss of two cylinders. Karl Brauer, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Other controls are: exhaust note, spoiler deployment, adaptive cruise controls, phone, audio and displays in the 12.3-inch high-def instrument cluster. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 15 Feb. 2024 Additionally, restroom ventilation was improved with more powerful exhaust fans that will keep smoke within those spaces. Michael Braithwaite, The Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exhaust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin exhaustus, past participle of exhaurire, from ex- + haurire to draw; akin to Middle High German œsen to empty, Greek auein to take

First Known Use

Verb

1531, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhaust was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near exhaust

Cite this Entry

“Exhaust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaust. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exhaust

1 of 2 verb
ex·​haust ig-ˈzȯst How to pronounce exhaust (audio)
1
a
: to use up completely
exhausted our funds
b
: to use up all of the mental or physical energy of : tire, wear out
2
a
: to draw off or let out completely
exhaust the air from the jar
b
: to empty by drawing something from
3
: to try out all of
they exhausted all possibilities
exhauster noun
exhaustibility noun
exhaustible adjective

exhaust

2 of 2 noun
1
: the gas that escapes from an engine
2
: a system of pipes through which exhaust escapes

Medical Definition

exhaust

transitive verb
ex·​haust ig-ˈzȯst How to pronounce exhaust (audio)
1
a
: to draw off or let out completely
b
: to empty by drawing off the contents
specifically : to create a vacuum in
2
a
: to use up : consume completely
b
: to tire extremely or completely
exhausted by overwork
3
: to extract completely with a solvent
exhaust a drug with alcohol

Legal Definition

exhaust

transitive verb
ex·​haust
: to use up or consume entirely: as
a
: to try all of (available remedies)
the applicant has exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the StateU.S. Code
b
: to bring (a claim) through all available prior levels of review
each of his claims would now be exhaustedW. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel

More from Merriam-Webster on exhaust

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