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
Iran may have positioned the Houthis as a regional player that can exert pressure on Iran’s neighbors, but the Houthis have always put their own interests first.
—
Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
In past interviews, Carvalho has denied exerting influence over the procurement process that led to the selection of AllHere.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
But the purpose of high-stakes testing is to pressure families to teach the material on the test, thereby exerting control over the curriculum.
—Nicholas Tampio, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The new mayor won’t have direct control over the public school system, but a mayor with strength restored can exert significant influence to affect student outcomes.
—Juan Rangel, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exert
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Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
In past interviews, Carvalho has denied exerting influence over the procurement process that led to the selection of AllHere.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
But the purpose of high-stakes testing is to pressure families to teach the material on the test, thereby exerting control over the curriculum.
—Nicholas Tampio, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The new mayor won’t have direct control over the public school system, but a mayor with strength restored can exert significant influence to affect student outcomes.
—Juan Rangel, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 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 14 Mar. 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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