Definition

Verb: - To exert (oneself) to an excessive degree, beyond what is healthy or advisable; to strain oneself physically or mentally through excessive effort.

Usage

This verb phrase is used to describe the action of pushing one's body or mind too hard, often resulting in fatigue, injury, or stress. It is typically used in contexts related to physical activity, work, or study.

Examples

• After not exercising for months, he overexerted himself at the gym and could barely move the next day.
• She tends to overexert herself at work, often staying late and skipping breaks.
• The doctor warned the patient not to overexert himself during his recovery.

Advanced Usage

• Reflexive Pronoun Placement: The pronoun "oneself" changes to match the subject (e.g., myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves).
  • I overexerted myself trying to finish the project.
  • They should be careful not to overexert themselves in the heat.

Variants and Related Words

• Overexertion (n): The act or an instance of overexerting; excessive exertion.
  • Muscle pain can be a sign of overexertion.
• Exert (v): To put forth or use physical or mental energy.
  • You don't need to exert so much force.

Synonyms

• Overdo it
• Push oneself too hard
• Strain oneself
• Burn oneself out

Antonyms

• Pace oneself
• Conserve one's energy
• Take it easy

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To burn the candle at both ends: To overwork or exhaust oneself by doing too much, especially by staying up late and waking up early.
  • By working two jobs, he was burning the candle at both ends and soon overexerted himself.
• To run oneself into the ground: To work so hard that one becomes exhausted or ill.
  • She ran herself into the ground preparing for the exams.

Verb

1. strain oneself more than is healthy