exerted; exerting; exerts
1
a
: to put forth (strength, effort, etc.)
the force is exerted sideways
b
: to put (oneself) into action or to tiring effort
won't have to exert himself moving the table
2
: to bring to bear especially with sustained effort or lasting effect
exerted a bad influence on his students
Examples of exert in a Sentence
He had to exert all of his strength to move the stone.
He exerts a lot of influence on the other members of the committee.
the force exerted by the machine
Recent Examples on the Web
Elon Musk The world’s richest man spent over $200 million to get Trump elected, and his Department Of Government Efficiency has exerted vast influence, rapidly slashing agencies like USAID and accessing the government’s payment and HR systems.
—
Joe Walsh, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
The phenomenon exerts a peculiarly deranging force, and until recently Americans remained oblivious.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect on Sunday, however, was the control exerted by Parkinson’s side, especially in a midfield that had to overcome the loss of Andy Cannon to a serious-looking knee injury in the first half.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
For example, while healthy black bears and grizzly bears have more long-distance endurance, polar bears can only exert themselves in short spurts to avoid overheating.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exert
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Joe Walsh, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
The phenomenon exerts a peculiarly deranging force, and until recently Americans remained oblivious.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect on Sunday, however, was the control exerted by Parkinson’s side, especially in a midfield that had to overcome the loss of Andy Cannon to a serious-looking knee injury in the first half.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
For example, while healthy black bears and grizzly bears have more long-distance endurance, polar bears can only exert themselves in short spurts to avoid overheating.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exert
Cite this Entry
“Exert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exert. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exert
verb
ex·ert
ig-ˈzərt 
1
: to put forth (as strength)
the force exerted by a machine
: bring into use or action
exert influence
2
: to put (oneself) into action or to tiring effort
don't exert yourself too much
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