exertion

noun

ex·​er·​tion ig-ˈzər-shən 

: the act or an instance of exerting

especially : a laborious or perceptible effort

Synonyms of exertion

• activity
• conditioning
• exercise

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

Cardio Load provides a rolling seven-day breakdown of your exertion, along with a target to hit for optimal training gains without overexertion. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

Two firefighters were treated at the scene for injuries related to heat and exertion. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Many people would be deliciously tired after such wholesome exertion and not want to spend their evenings raking over the past with a chatty English journalist. — Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

Perhaps the palm-tree mural emphasizes the open windowlessness of the subterranean, or the flat color dulls exertion. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for exertion

• assertion
• cistercian
• coercion
• desertion
• insertion
• mercian
• tertian
• overexertion
• reassertion

Kids Definition

exertion

noun

ex·​er·​tion ig-ˈzər-shən 

: the act or an instance of exerting