exhaust

1 of 2

verb

ex·​haust ig-ˈzȯst 

exhausted; exhausting; exhausts

transitive verb

1

a

: to consume entirely : use up

exhausted our funds in a week

b

: to tire extremely or completely

exhausted by overwork

c

: to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent

exhaust a soil of fertility

2

a

: to draw off or let out completely

b

: to empty by drawing off the contents

specifically : to create a vacuum in

3

a

: to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely

b

: to try out the whole number of

exhausted all the possibilities

intransitive verb

: discharge, empty

the engine exhausts through the muffler

exhauster noun

exhaustibility

ig-ˌzȯ-stə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

exhaustible

ig-ˈzȯ-stə-bəl 

adjective

exhaust

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the escape of used gas or vapor from an engine

b

: the gas or vapor thus escaping

2

a

: the conduit through which used gases escape

b

: an arrangement for removing fumes, dusts, or odors from an enclosure

3

: exhaustion

Synonyms

Verb

• break
• burn out
• bust
• do in
• do up
• drain
• fag
• fatigue
• frazzle
• harass
• kill
• knock out
• outwear
• tire
• tucker (out)
• wash out
• wear
• wear out
• weary

Choose the Right Synonym for exhaust

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency.

deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

tire, weary, fatigue, exhaust, jade mean to make or become unable or unwilling to continue.

tire implies a draining of one's strength or patience.

the long ride tired us out

weary stresses tiring until one is unable to endure more of the same thing.

wearied of the constant arguing

fatigue suggests great lassitude from excessive strain or undue effort.

fatigued by the day's chores

exhaust implies complete draining of strength by hard exertion.

shoveling snow exhausted him

jade suggests the loss of all freshness and eagerness.

appetites jaded by overindulgence

Examples of exhaust in a Sentence

Verb

If they keep spending this way, they'll exhaust their savings.

He can talk about baseball for hours and still feel that he hasn't exhausted the subject.

Noun

diesel exhaust from passing trucks

There's a problem with the car's exhaust.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Dominate a single platform Many entrepreneurs exhaust themselves trying to maintain presence across every social channel, newsletter platform, and podcast directory. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

The gorilla could easily maim several men before being exhausted. —Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025

Noun

Millions of cars and trucks in the region release a vast amount of vehicle exhaust, which forms smog when it’s cooked in the perennially sunny climate. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025

Without the ambient sounds of an engine and exhaust, EVs tend to have lower tolerances for noise and vibration from components. —New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin exhaustus, past participle of exhaurire, from ex- + haurire to draw; akin to Middle High German œsen to empty, Greek auein to take

First Known Use

Verb

1531, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing exhaust

• exhaust (all) the possibilities

Rhymes for exhaust

• accost
• crisscrossed
• defrost
• embossed
• recrossed
• uncrossed
• bossed
• cost
• crossed
• dost
• glossed
• lost

Kids Definition

exhaust

1 of 2 verb

ex·​haust ig-ˈzȯst 

1

a

: to use up completely

exhausted our funds

b

: to use up all of the mental or physical energy of : tire, wear out

2

a

: to draw off or let out completely

exhaust the air from the jar

b

: to empty by drawing something from

3

: to try out all of

they exhausted all possibilities

exhauster noun

exhaustibility

-ˌzȯ-stə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

exhaustible

-ˈzȯ-stə-bəl 

adjective

exhaust

2 of 2 noun

1

: the gas that escapes from an engine

2

: a system of pipes through which exhaust escapes

Medical Definition

exhaust

transitive verb

ex·​haust ig-ˈzȯst 

1

a

: to draw off or let out completely

b

: to empty by drawing off the contents

specifically : to create a vacuum in

2

a

: to use up : consume completely

b

: to tire extremely or completely

exhausted by overwork

3

: to extract completely with a solvent

exhaust a drug with alcohol

Legal Definition

exhaust

transitive verb

ex·​haust

: to use up or consume entirely: as

a

: to try all of (available remedies)

the applicant has exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the State

—U.S. Code

b

: to bring (a claim) through all available prior levels of review

each of his claims would now be exhausted

—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel