exhaustion

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noun ex·haus·tion \ig-ˈzȯs-chən\

Definition of exhaustion

: the act or process of exhausting : the state of being exhausted

See exhaustion defined for English-language learners

See exhaustion defined for kids

Examples of exhaustion in a Sentence

He worked to the point of complete exhaustion.
the exhaustion of our natural resources

Recent Examples of exhaustion from the Web

But then a few years ago, King began to feel overwhelmed by exhaustion, constantly out of breath.

— lara korte, Cincinnati.com, "Adults with congenital heart disease find medical home at Cincinnati Children's," 13 July 2017
Like Heather, Robin initially experienced minor afflictions ranging from rashes and itchy eyes to exhaustion.

— kaleigh fasanella, Teen Vogue, "American Airlines’ Uniforms Are Allegedly Making Employees Ill," 10 July 2017
The panel identified bed-sharing, or co-sleeping, as a concern, especially when an adult might be impaired by drugs, alcohol, prescription medication or just sheer exhaustion.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky drug epidemic's smallest victims: Babies dying in their sleep," 6 July 2017
Scorpio: Some days are for moving through boredom, and some are for moving through exhaustion.

— claire comstock-gay, The Cut, "Madame Clairevoyant: Horoscopes for the Week of July 3," 3 July 2017
A new exhibit remembers Sylvia Plath in her 20s Angela Merkel’s ‘Schabowski moment’ on same-sex marriage Burnout at work isn’t just about exhaustion.

— claire zillman, Fortune, "The World’s Most Powerful Women: July 3," 2 July 2017
Since magnesium deficiency can contribute to exhaustion, I’m supposed to pop a calcium/magnesium supplement every day in addition to a fish oil supplement.

— michelle konstantinovsky, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why Do Women Still Think PMS is Normal?," 29 June 2017
But exhaustion wasn’t the only thing Carter was dealing with on Thursday.

— dave quinn, EW.com, "Aaron Carter hospitalized amid 'hate messages and death threats'," 24 June 2017
Most of the other swimmers had simply quit, their dreams extinguished by exhaustion.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Sea of Dreams: How William Wrigley Jr. brought the Wrigley Ocean Marathon to life," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exhaustion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of exhaustion

1615

EXHAUSTION Defined for English Language Learners

exhaustion

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noun

Definition of exhaustion for English Language Learners

: the state of being extremely tired : the state of being exhausted
: the act of using all of something : the act of exhausting something

EXHAUSTION Defined for Kids

exhaustion

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noun ex·haus·tion \ig-ˈzȯs-chən\

Definition of exhaustion for Students

1 : the condition of being very tired
2 : the act of using up completely exhaustion of a water supply

Medical Dictionary

exhaustion

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noun ex·haus·tion \ig-ˈzȯs-chən\

Medical Definition of exhaustion

1: the act or process of exhausting : the state of being exhausted suffered from physical and mental exhaustion—see heat exhaustion
2: neurosis following overstrain or overexertion especially in military combat

Law Dictionary

exhaustion

noun ex·haus·tion

Legal Definition of exhaustion

: the act or process of exhausting even after the exhaustion of direct appellate review — W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel; specifically : exhaustion of remedies