exert

verb

ex·​ert ig-ˈzərt 

exerted; exerting; exerts

transitive verb

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

3

: employ, wield

exerted leadership abilities intelligently

Synonyms of exert

• apply
• use
• wield
• employ

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

The Iran war is exerting further upward pressure on rates by stoking inflation concerns and driving up government bond yields, according to economists. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

The tech giant continues to exert a strong pull on the collective cultural psyche 50 years after its April 1, 1976, founding. —Chloe Veltman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026

The federal government, controlled mostly by the Republican Party, increasingly exerted its power in the West and provided incentives for white settlers to migrate to the region. —Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

His potential candidacy exerts a kind of gravitational pull. —Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin exsertus, past participle of exserere to thrust out, from ex- + serere to join — more at series

First Known Use

circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing exert

• exert one self

Rhymes for exert

• alert
• assert
• avert
• dessert
• divert
• evert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• overt
• revert

Kids 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