exerted; exerting; exerts
1
a
: to put forth (strength, effort, etc.)
the force is exerted sideways
b
: to put (oneself) into action or to tiring effort
won't have to exert himself moving the table
2
: to bring to bear especially with sustained effort or lasting effect
exerted a bad influence on his students
Examples of exert in a Sentence
He had to exert all of his strength to move the stone.
He exerts a lot of influence on the other members of the committee.
the force exerted by the machine
Recent Examples on the Web
The three officers who exerted deadly force – Gustafson, Garcia and Widlarz – have been cleared following the investigation, and Mosser’s review is now considered closed.
—
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Or maybe Memphis will continue to exert what seems to be a mental edge over the Wolves and push them closer to having to go on the road to start the Play-In Tournament.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Actions such as name-calling, insulting, humiliating, and constant criticism are ways by which one partner makes the other feel small, worthless, and powerless, which opens the door for the perpetrator to exert control.
—Zameena Mejia, Refinery29, 8 Apr. 2025
Over time, these incremental efforts create a cushion that can preserve financial stability when inflation exerts unexpected pressure on your household budget.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exert
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Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Or maybe Memphis will continue to exert what seems to be a mental edge over the Wolves and push them closer to having to go on the road to start the Play-In Tournament.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Actions such as name-calling, insulting, humiliating, and constant criticism are ways by which one partner makes the other feel small, worthless, and powerless, which opens the door for the perpetrator to exert control.
—Zameena Mejia, Refinery29, 8 Apr. 2025
Over time, these incremental efforts create a cushion that can preserve financial stability when inflation exerts unexpected pressure on your household budget.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exert
Cite this Entry
“Exert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exert. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exert
verb
ex·ert
ig-ˈzərt 
1
: to put forth (as strength)
the force exerted by a machine
: bring into use or action
exert influence
2
: to put (oneself) into action or to tiring effort
don't exert yourself too much
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