exert
verb
[ ɪɡˈzəːt ]
• apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality).
• "the moon exerts a force on the Earth"
Similar:
bring to bear,
apply,
bring into play,
exercise,
employ,
use,
make use of,
utilize,
deploy,
wield,
expend,
spend,
• make a physical or mental effort.
• "he needs to exert himself to try to find an answer"
Similar:
make an effort,
try hard,
strive,
endeavour,
apply oneself,
do one's best,
do all one can,
do one's utmost,
give one's all,
make every effort,
spare no effort,
be at pains,
put oneself out,
struggle,
labour,
toil,
strain,
push oneself,
drive oneself,
work hard,
work like a Trojan,
rack/cudgel one's brains,
give it one's best shot,
go all out,
pull out all the stops,
bend/lean over backwards,
put one's back into it,
knock oneself out,
do one's damnedest,
move heaven and earth,
beaver away,
slog away,
work one's socks off,
break sweat,
do one's darnedest/durnedest,
bust one's chops,
go for the doctor,
Origin:
mid 17th century (in the sense ‘perform, practise’): from Latin exserere ‘put forth’, from ex- ‘out’ + serere ‘bind’.
