What does exhorting mean?
Exhorting is the act of strongly and earnestly urging someone toward a course of action. It functions as the present participle and gerund of the verb 'to exhort,' and it implies far more than gentle encouragement — the exhorter speaks with urgency, conviction, or moral force, whether rousing a weary army, inspiring a congregation, or pressing a friend to seize an opportunity. The word derives from the Latin 'exhortari,' meaning 'to encourage strongly,' formed from 'ex-' (thoroughly) and 'hortari' (to urge). Because of its formal register, 'exhorting' appears most often in writing about oratory, religion, politics, and leadership rather than in everyday speech. It pairs naturally with prepositions like 'to' followed by an infinitive ('exhorting them to persevere'). For writers seeking a term that captures impassioned, purposeful persuasion — persuasion aimed at lifting others to act — 'exhorting' remains one of English's most precise and vivid choices.
verb (present participle and gerund of exhort)Strongly encouraging, urging, or inciting someone to do something, typically through earnest or forceful appeal.
- Earnestly urging or encouraging someone to do something (the dominant sense, as in exhorting a crowd or team).
- Formally appealing or admonishing, especially in religious, political, or military rhetoric.
"The coach stood on the sidelines, exhorting her players to give one final push."
"The general addressed his exhausted soldiers, exhorting them to hold the line until reinforcements arrived."
"In her commencement speech, she spent several minutes exhorting graduates to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it."
Despite sounding like it involves extortion, 'exhorting' is entirely above-board — it's the ancient art of urging people onward, straight from the Latin for 'to encourage heartily.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exhorting
Exhorting traces back to the Latin verb 'exhortari,' meaning 'to encourage or urge strongly,' a compound of 'ex-' (intensive) and 'hortari' (to urge or incite). The verb entered English via Old French in the medieval period and has retained its sense of earnest, forceful encouragement ever since. It shares its Latin root with related English words such as 'hortatory' (tending to urge or encourage) and 'exhortation' (an earnest appeal).
Related word forms
How exhorting is actually used
Register: formal to literary. The word carries an earnest, sometimes impassioned connotation — it implies more than mere suggestion; there is urgency or moral weight behind the appeal. It frequently appears in contexts of speeches, sermons, military leadership, and motivational rhetoric. Less common in casual conversation, where 'urging' or 'encouraging' would be preferred.
Easily confused with exhorting
'Extorting' means obtaining something by force or threats, while 'exhorting' means earnestly urging or encouraging someone.
'Consorting' means associating with someone, whereas 'exhorting' means strongly urging action; the words share only a superficial sound similarity.