1. to use physical or mental effort; to apply force or pressure
2. to have a strong influence or effect on something

Examples

• She had to exert considerable effort to lift the heavy box.
• The coach told the team to exert themselves during practice.
• Parents exert a strong influence on their children’s behavior.
• The company tried to exert pressure on the government to change the law.
• He exerted all his strength to push the car out of the mud.
• The new manager will exert her authority to improve workplace efficiency.
• Don’t exert yourself too much on your first day back from injury.