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
But in Schmitt’s hands, what could have been a straightforward takedown of conservative philanthropic activism is instead a personal meditation on control and the ways that institutions and systems exert control over our beliefs, lives and bodies.
—
Shannon L. Bowen, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
Post-wildfire landslides can exert great loads on objects in their paths, strip vegetation, block drainage ways, damage structures and endanger human life, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
In many cases, such as human blood vessels, the body exerts much tighter control over diameter than length.
—Mitchell Newberry, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2025
Trump’s move is his latest effort to exert greater control over federal arts institutions, after shunning the Kennedy Center’s signature event, the Kennedy Center Honors, in his first term.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for exert 
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Shannon L. Bowen, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
Post-wildfire landslides can exert great loads on objects in their paths, strip vegetation, block drainage ways, damage structures and endanger human life, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
In many cases, such as human blood vessels, the body exerts much tighter control over diameter than length.
—Mitchell Newberry, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2025
Trump’s move is his latest effort to exert greater control over federal arts institutions, after shunning the Kennedy Center’s signature event, the Kennedy Center Honors, in his first term.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for exert
Dictionary Entries Near exert
Cite this Entry
“Exert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exert. Accessed 21 Feb. 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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