exert

exert — verb

1. to use power, authority, or influence in a deliberate way to produce a particula

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to use power, authority, or influence in a deliberate way to produce a particular result

Example

The union exerted pressure on the company to raise wages.

exert pressure on [sb] to [do]

Nikos exerted his authority to push the project through the committee.

exert + authority + to [do]

Common collocations
  • exert authority
  • exert influence
  • exert pressure
  • exert power
  • exert control
Synonyms
  • apply

    broader, less forceful; can be used with rules or methods

  • exercise

    more formal; often used for rights, patience, or authority

  • wield

    slightly physical flavour; suggests power held and actively used

  • bring to bear

    formal phrase; suggests concentrated, sustained effort

Antonyms
  • withhold

    refuse to use power or influence one has

  • relinquish

    give up authority or control entirely

Grammar Patterns

exert + noun (authority/power/influence/pressure)

Usage Note

The direct object of this sense is always an abstract noun such as authority, influence, power, or pressure. Never use a person or concrete object.

Common Mistakes

The boss exerted his employees to work harder.
The boss exerted pressure on his employees to work harder.
exert requires an abstract noun (authority, pressure, influence), not a person, as its object.
She exerted the new rule immediately.
She exerted her authority to enforce the new rule.
exert is not a synonym for apply/enforce rules; it means putting your own resource (authority, power) to use.

2. to use effort, strength, or energy — either mental or physical — to achieve some

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to use effort, strength, or energy — either mental or physical — to achieve something

Example

Roya exerted herself to finish the marathon in under four hours.

exert + reflexive pronoun

The students exerted great effort to prepare for the final exams.

exert + effort + to [do]

Common collocations
  • exert effort
  • exert yourself
  • exert strength
  • exert energy
  • exert force
Synonyms
  • strive

    suggests purposeful, sustained effort toward a goal

  • push

    informal; can mean driving oneself beyond normal limits

  • strain

    implies physical difficulty and possible overexertion

  • labour

    suggests heavy, often physical work over time

Antonyms
  • relax

    stop making an effort; let go of tension

  • idle

    spend time doing nothing productive

Grammar Patterns

exert + reflexive pronoun

exert + noun (effort/strength/energy)

Usage Note

When the object is not specified (effort/strength/energy), this sense requires a reflexive pronoun: exert oneself. Common in descriptions of sports, exams, rescue operations, and mentally demanding tasks.

Common Mistakes

She exerted to open the jar.
She exerted herself to open the jar.
When no direct object like effort or strength is given, the reflexive pronoun (oneself) is required.
He exerted hard to win the race.
He exerted himself to win the race.
exert is not used with an adverb like 'hard' in this way; use the reflexive construction instead.

Word family

  • exertion
    nounB2
  • overexert
    verbC1
  • overexertion
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These four words all involve putting something into action, but differ in scope and flavour. Apply is the broadest — it simply means putting something to use and works with rules, methods, force, or knowledge (apply the new policy, apply pressure). Exercise is more formal and typically pairs with rights, qualities, or authority (exercise patience, exercise legal rights). Wield has a slightly physical origin (handling a tool or weapon) and carries a sense of active control — you wield power or influence, not rules or methods. Bring to bear is a formal phrase that suggests concentrating all available force or influence toward a single target (bring pressure to bear on the committee). Compared to these, exert emphasises that the user deliberately activates a resource they already possess but could choose not to use. For example: The CEO exerted her authority to block the merger highlights a conscious decision to throw weight behind an outcome, whereas The CEO exercised her authority is more neutral about intent.

apply ↗exercise ↗wieldbring to bear

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • bring to bear

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Exert comes from Latin exserere, meaning 'to put forth' or 'thrust out' — a combination of ex- ('out') and serere ('to join, bind'). In Latin it referred literally to plants sending out shoots. By the 1600s English speakers had extended it to putting forth effort, and by the 1700s to deliberately using authority or influence.