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 lot of influence on fellow committee members
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
Albert’s prose sometimes strains for lyricism, but the mysteries embedded in the novel—creative, familial, and supernatural—exert a powerful draw.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
The Tohono O’odham have continued to welcome outsiders, including the federal government, even when those outsiders have sought to exert further control over the O’odham’s ancestral homelands.
—Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026
Reaching the finish line The Swift observatory is flying in low-Earth orbit, where the outermost layers of the atmosphere still exert some aerodynamic influence on satellites.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 June 2026
Drinking a lot of water is particularly important for fans and workers who are moving around a lot or exerting themselves.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exert
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The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
The Tohono O’odham have continued to welcome outsiders, including the federal government, even when those outsiders have sought to exert further control over the O’odham’s ancestral homelands.
—Geraldo L. Cadava, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026
Reaching the finish line The Swift observatory is flying in low-Earth orbit, where the outermost layers of the atmosphere still exert some aerodynamic influence on satellites.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 June 2026
Drinking a lot of water is particularly important for fans and workers who are moving around a lot or exerting themselves.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exert
Cite this Entry
“Exert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exert. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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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