exertion
gb/ɪɡzˈɚʃən/ us/ɪɡzˈɚʃən/
B2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
action
1
strong physical or mental effort
The use of a lot of body or mind energy to do something hard, which can make you feel very tired.
Usage pattern:
[someone] avoids [exertion]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse “exertion” with “exercise.” “Exercise” is a regular activity you do to stay healthy (for example, running, swimming), while “exertion” is the heavy effort or energy used in any hard activity (it can be sports, work, or even thinking). Learners also sometimes say “do an exertion”; natural English uses “make an effort” or simply “after much exertion,” not *“do an exertion.”*
Synonyms
effort (More general and common; does not always suggest tiredness or great strain the way “exertion” often does.)
|
strain (Suggests effort that pushes someone close to their physical or mental limit, sometimes with pain or damage.)
Antonyms
rest (Opposite in that no energy is actively used; the body or mind is recovering instead of working hard.)
Collocations
physical exertion
|mental exertion
|strenuous exertion
|avoid exertion
|collapse from exertion
|lack of exertion
Themes
health
|sports
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Climbing the mountain in the heat required tremendous exertion.
- After an hour of intense exertion at the gym, his legs were shaking.
- She felt dizzy from the exertion of running to catch the train.
- The doctor told him to avoid any heavy exertion after the surgery.
- Long periods of mental exertion left her exhausted by the end of the exam.
Learner examples
- After the long run, I was shaking from the exertion.
- The doctor said I should not do any strong exertion for two weeks.
- The exam needed a lot of mental exertion, and I felt very tired.
- Hard physical exertion in hot weather can be dangerous.
- He is weak, so even small exertion makes him tired.
Noun
formal
C1
action
2
use of power or influence
The use of power, authority, or influence to make people or events change in a certain way.
Usage pattern:
the exertion of [power/authority/influence]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “exertion” with power words without the preposition “of,” for example *“exertion power”* instead of the correct “exertion of power.” Another mistake is choosing “exertion” where “effort” is better; for physical or mental work, use “effort” or “exertion,” but for power or authority, use “exertion of power/authority” or “exercise of power/authority.”
Synonyms
exercise (Common in formal contexts like “exercise of power/authority”; slightly more neutral and frequent than “exertion” in legal and political writing.)
Antonyms
noninterference (Opposite because it means choosing not to use power or influence and not to take control of a situation.)
Collocations
exertion of influence
|exertion of authority
|exertion of power
|exertion of political pressure
|through the exertion of
Themes
politics
|business
|society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The policy was changed only after the exertion of strong political influence from several major donors.
- Critics argued that the mayor’s exertion of authority over the media crossed legal and ethical lines.
- Through the exertion of considerable diplomatic pressure, the government secured the release of the hostages.
Learner examples
- The new rule came after the exertion of pressure from student groups.
- Some people were worried about the heavy exertion of power by the police.
- Change happened only through the exertion of influence by local leaders.
- Too much exertion of authority can make workers feel afraid.
- He denied the unfair exertion of political power in the case.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exertion
IPA
GB/ɪɡzˈɚʃən/
US/ɪɡzˈɚʃən/
Syllables & stress
ex - er - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (er)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: exertion
- Plural: exertion, exertions
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.