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 trial has presented a unique test for Republican leaders and lawmakers in the Texas Capitol, where the party exerts overwhelming control, and for the future direction of the party more broadly.
—
Edgar Sandoval, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
The episode follows a pattern of behavior that’s practically been normalized: powerful men who exert control over women — sometimes in unthinkable ways — and believe their advances are wanted, if not invited.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
During the audition, the producers bully the giddy young woman into removing her top — the first of many instances in which predatory men exert their power over women in the movie — rewarding Iris with a role.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
Mean temperatures in tropical forests are generally high, and their seasonal changes are minimal, so even small shifts can exert significant impact on their plant species, the study authors said.
—Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2023
For years, scientists have theorized that sunlight, properly captured in the vacuum of space, could exert enough force to boost an object to incredible speeds.
—Seth Fletcher, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2023
Until this year, political parties allied to Thaksin had won the most seats in every election since 2001, but have struggled to hold on to power due to the military exerting its influence, whether through coups or other means.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 23 Aug. 2023
Meanwhile, OpenAI has signed its own deal with The Associated Press, setting up a situation where AI companies peel big players out of coalitions that might otherwise exert collective bargaining power over the platforms.
—Nilay Patel, The Verge, 22 Aug. 2023
Police can exert more control over citizens, and companies that participate innovate faster, thanks to their access to training data.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Aug. 2023
See More
Edgar Sandoval, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
The episode follows a pattern of behavior that’s practically been normalized: powerful men who exert control over women — sometimes in unthinkable ways — and believe their advances are wanted, if not invited.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
During the audition, the producers bully the giddy young woman into removing her top — the first of many instances in which predatory men exert their power over women in the movie — rewarding Iris with a role.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
Mean temperatures in tropical forests are generally high, and their seasonal changes are minimal, so even small shifts can exert significant impact on their plant species, the study authors said.
—Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2023
For years, scientists have theorized that sunlight, properly captured in the vacuum of space, could exert enough force to boost an object to incredible speeds.
—Seth Fletcher, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2023
Until this year, political parties allied to Thaksin had won the most seats in every election since 2001, but have struggled to hold on to power due to the military exerting its influence, whether through coups or other means.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 23 Aug. 2023
Meanwhile, OpenAI has signed its own deal with The Associated Press, setting up a situation where AI companies peel big players out of coalitions that might otherwise exert collective bargaining power over the platforms.
—Nilay Patel, The Verge, 22 Aug. 2023
Police can exert more control over citizens, and companies that participate innovate faster, thanks to their access to training data.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing exert
Dictionary Entries Near exert
Cite this Entry
“Exert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exert. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on exert
Nglish: Translation of exert for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of exert for Arabic Speakers
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