heat exhaustion

noun

Updated on: 3 Apr 2018

Definition of heat exhaustion

: a condition marked by weakness, nausea, dizziness, and profuse sweating that results from physical exertion in a hot environment — called also heat prostration; compare heatstroke

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See heat exhaustion defined for kids

Recent Examples of heat exhaustion from the Web

The wildlife rescue group Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service has a tip sheet for how to identify heat exhaustion in various species of animals.

— National Geographic, "Bats Are Boiling Alive in Australia's Heat Wave," 9 Jan. 2018
No one mentioned hantavirus as part of that instruction, Fry said, and when training finally occurred, Spencer was handed a pamphlet on heat exhaustion and another employee was given a pamphlet on hantavirus.

— cathie anderson, sacbee, "He caught a rare, crippling virus at a state park. His dad fears a cover-up | The Sacramento Bee," 16 Mar. 2018
The 2-year-old was hospitalized with heat exhaustion.

— kaylee remington, cleveland.com, "Babysitters charged with leaving five children in the back of a sweltering U-Haul in Elyria," 21 Dec. 2017
Athletes and those who work outside have to be especially careful to avoid heat injuries including muscle cramps, heat exhaustion and seizures.

— sandee lamotte, CNN, "Benefits of water: Are you getting enough fluids to stay healthy?," 27 Sep. 2017
After being alerted to the horrific scene by a Wal-Mart employee, police and rescuers rushed to the area and began pulling people from the back of the truck, many of them stricken with heat exhaustion and severely dehydrated.

— dan frosch, WSJ, "Driver in Texas Human-Smuggling Case Faces Federal Charge," 24 July 2017
Protective styles are a great way to switch up your look while keeping your strands from chemical and heat exhaustion — and also for cutting your hair routine by half.

— joane amay, Allure, "How to Heal a Scalp Irritated by Protective Styling," 5 Oct. 2017
The children, ages 5, 6 and 7, suffered heat exhaustion after remaining in the car for 45 minutes and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment, police said.

— justin jouvenal, Washington Post, "Falls Church mom left children in locked car while she worked, police say," 5 Oct. 2017
Nearly 300 runners were treated for blisters or heat exhaustion, while 10 more were taken to local hospitals for heat problems and dehydration.

— tim bannon, chicagotribune.com, "40 Chicago Marathon moments: Dangerous heat, snow, world records, controversy and year it was canceled," 3 Oct. 2017

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

First Known Use of heat exhaustion

1861

HEAT EXHAUSTION Defined for English Language Learners

heat exhaustion

noun

Definition of heat exhaustion for English Language Learners

medical : a condition that happens when someone is too active in extremely hot conditions and that causes a person to sweat and feel very weak, dizzy, etc.

Medical Dictionary

heat exhaustion

noun

medical Definition of heat exhaustion

: a condition characterized by faintness or fainting, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, headache, and profuse sweating and resulting from physical exertion in a hot environment — called also heat prostration; compare heatstroke