What does exerting mean?
"Exerting" is the present participle of the verb "exert," which means to apply or bring force, pressure, influence, or effort to bear upon something. It is used in two main ways: to describe the application of power or sway — as when a government exerts influence over policy, a magnet exerts a pull on iron filings, or a negotiator exerts pressure on an opposing party — and to describe strenuous personal effort, most often in the reflexive form "exerting oneself." The word belongs to a formal-to-neutral register and appears frequently in political journalism, scientific writing about forces, and descriptions of athletic or mental strain. Its Latin roots, from "ex-" (out) plus "serere" (to bind or put), give it a sense of energy drawn from within and directed outward. Because it implies sustained, purposeful application rather than incidental action, "exerting" is a precise and useful choice wherever effort or influence deserves emphasis.
verb (present participle of exert)The present participle of "exert": applying or bringing force, influence, or effort to bear on something; making a strenuous physical or mental effort.
- To apply or bring to bear force, pressure, or influence on someone or something.
- To make a strenuous physical or mental effort.
"By exerting steady pressure on the negotiations, the mediator finally brought both sides to the table."
"The government has been exerting considerable pressure on the industry to reduce emissions."
"He was visibly exerting himself on the final climb, his breathing ragged and heavy."
Every time you push a door open, you're doing what the Romans described with "serere," to bind or join — because "exert" literally meant to thrust out from within.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exerting
"Exerting" derives from the verb "exert," which entered English in the mid-17th century from French "exercer" and ultimately from Latin "exerere," meaning to thrust out or bring forth, formed from "ex-" (out) and "serere" (to bind, join, or put). The same Latin root "serere" underlies related words such as "insert," "series," and "inert." The sense evolved in English from literally putting forth into the modern meanings of applying force or influence and making strenuous effort.
Related word forms
How exerting is actually used
Register is neutral to formal; the word is common in journalism, politics, and science writing. In the physical-effort sense it often appears reflexively as "exerting oneself." It carries a connotation of deliberate, sustained effort rather than casual use of power.
Easily confused with exerting
"Exerting" means applying force, effort, or influence, while "asserting" means stating something firmly and confidently.