exertion
noun
ex·er·tion
ig-ˈzər-shən 
: the act or an instance of exerting
especially
: a laborious or perceptible effort
Examples of exertion in a Sentence
He was panting from the exertion of climbing the stairs.
an easy sport that requires little physical exertion
Recent Examples on the Web
To win an Olympic gold medal is the stuff of elite athletes’ dreams, the culmination of years of arduous training, extreme physical exertion and grueling qualifying competitions.
—
Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to be fit and intelligent, seeking out tasks that require physical and mental exertion.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2026
More serious altitude sickness shows up as shortness of breath even with minimal exertion, along with swelling in the hands and face.
—Morayo Ogunbayo, AJC.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Some of Goldsworthy’s art has also required strenuous exertions.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exertion
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to be fit and intelligent, seeking out tasks that require physical and mental exertion.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2026
More serious altitude sickness shows up as shortness of breath even with minimal exertion, along with swelling in the hands and face.
—Morayo Ogunbayo, AJC.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Some of Goldsworthy’s art has also required strenuous exertions.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exertion
Cite this Entry
“Exertion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exertion. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exertion
noun
ex·er·tion
ig-ˈzər-shən
: the act or an instance of exerting
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
