1 to make use of sth, for example influence, strength, etc, to affect sb/sth 运用（影响力、力量等）: Parents exert a powerful influence on their children's opinions. 父母对子女的见解影响重大。

2 exert yourself to make a big effort 尽力；努力: You won't make any progress if you don't exert yourself a bit more. 你如果不多加一把劲，就不会有进步。