exhausted; exhausting; exhausts
1
a
: to consume entirely : use up
exhausted our funds in a week
b
: to tire extremely or completely
exhausted by overwork
c
: to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent
exhaust a soil of fertility
2
a
: to draw off or let out completely
b
: to empty by drawing off the contents
specifically
: to create a vacuum in
3
a
: to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely
b
: to try out the whole number of
exhausted all the possibilities
1
a
: the escape of used gas or vapor from an engine
b
: the gas or vapor thus escaping
2
a
: the conduit through which used gases escape
b
: an arrangement for removing fumes, dusts, or odors from an enclosure
3
Examples of exhaust in a Sentence
Verb
If they keep spending this way, they'll exhaust their savings.
He can talk about baseball for hours and still feel that he hasn't exhausted the subject.
Noun
diesel exhaust from passing trucks
There's a problem with the car's exhaust.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
However, the players named in the probe have already exhausted their eligibility.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The project produced two working reactor prototypes, Tory-IIA and Tory-IIC, but was abandoned in 1964 due to safety concerns over radioactive exhaust and the rise of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exhaust
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
However, the players named in the probe have already exhausted their eligibility.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
The tactic, analysts say, is deliberate – part of a broader effort to wear down Taiwan’s air force, degrade equipment and exhaust Taiwan’s personnel.
—Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The project produced two working reactor prototypes, Tory-IIA and Tory-IIC, but was abandoned in 1964 due to safety concerns over radioactive exhaust and the rise of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exhaust
Cite this Entry
“Exhaust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaust. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exhaust
1 of 2 verb
ex·haust
ig-ˈzȯst 
1
2
a
: to draw off or let out completely
exhaust the air from the jar
b
: to empty by drawing something from
3
: to try out all of
they exhausted all possibilities
exhaust
2 of 2 noun1
: the gas that escapes from an engine
2
: a system of pipes through which exhaust escapes
Medical Definition
exhaust
transitive verb
ex·haust
ig-ˈzȯst
1
a
: to draw off or let out completely
b
: to empty by drawing off the contents
specifically
: to create a vacuum in
2
a
: to use up : consume completely
b
: to tire extremely or completely
exhausted by overwork
3
: to extract completely with a solvent
exhaust a drug with alcohol
Legal Definition
exhaust
transitive verb
ex·haust
: to use up or consume entirely: as
a
: to try all of (available remedies)
the applicant has exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the State—U.S. Code
U.S. Code
b
: to bring (a claim) through all available prior levels of review
each of his claims would now be exhausted—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel
W. R. LaFave and J. H. IsraelLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share