Exert Meaning
/ɪɡˈzɝt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo make use of, to apply, especially of something non-material; to bring to bear.
verbTo put in vigorous action.
Sentence Examples
You don't exert yourself much.
Your sense of humor is beginning to exert itself.
CEFR Practice Quiz
To lift the heavy box, you must ____ a lot of force.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You may need to ____ some pressure to open the lid if it is stuck tightly.
Word Origin & History
From Latin exsertus, past participle of exserō (“to stretch or thrust forth or out”), from ex- + serō (“to string together”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him."
— 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
"Di Matteo clearly saw Drogba's power as a potential threat to a Barcelona defence stripped of Gerard Pique - but he barely caught sight of goal in a first 45 minutes in which the Catalans exerted their technical superiority."
— 2012 April 18, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona”, in BBC Sport:
"How can the unions - or more specifically the RMT - possibly think this is a good time to exert a bit of industrial muscle and indulge in strikes both on the national railway and the London Underground?"
— 2022 January 12, Christian Wolmar, “A new year... but the same old mistakes are being made”, in RAIL, number 948, pages 40–41:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
To lift the heavy box, you must ____ a lot of force.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You may need to ____ some pressure to open the lid if it is stuck tightly.