Exertion: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe significant physical or mental effort.

• The exertion from the workout left him exhausted.
• Studying for finals requires considerable mental exertion.

A more general term that refers to the amount of work put into achieving something, can be physical or mental, and may vary in intensity.

• She put a lot of effort into her science project.
• His effort to help the community did not go unnoticed.

Often used to describe a state of tension or stress resulting from overexertion or excessive pressure. Can have a negative connotation.

• The constant strain of his job affected his health.
• Lifting that heavy furniture put a strain on his back.

Focuses on the act of applying force, influence, or pressure, often in an ongoing manner. Used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

• He was exerting all his strength to lift the heavy box.
• She was exerting pressure on the team to meet the deadline.

Refers to the quality of being assertive and proactive in applying energy or influence. Often used in leadership or management contexts.

• Her exertiveness in the meeting helped push the project forward.
• His exertiveness made him stand out as a leader.

Exertion is typically used to describe physical effort or activity that requires a lot of energy and strength.

• After hours of physical exertion, John was completely exhausted.
• The exertion of lifting heavy weights took a toll on his muscles.

Mental effort is a more general term that applies to any kind of thinking or concentration, regardless of the difficulty or complexity.

• It takes a lot of mental effort to stay focused during a long meeting.
• Learning a new language requires consistent mental effort.

Cognitive strain refers to the mental effort or stress experienced when dealing with complex information or tasks that require intense thinking.

• She felt a considerable amount of cognitive strain while solving the challenging math problems.
• Reading the dense scientific paper caused him significant cognitive strain.

Intellectual exertion describes the focused and strenuous mental effort needed for academic, analytical, or creative tasks.

• Writing a thesis requires a great deal of intellectual exertion.
• His work as a philosopher involves constant intellectual exertion.