Definition
To exhort means to urge, advise, or encourage someone to do something, often in a forceful or passionate manner. It can also mean to make a strong appeal or call to action.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of Speech
Verb
Synonyms
Urge, encourage, persuade, implore, advise, recommend, admonish, appeal, rally, motivate
Antonyms
Discourage, dissuade, deter, demotivate, neglect, ignore
Word Forms
| Part of Speech | Words |
|---|---|
| Noun | exhortations, exhortation |
| Verb | exhorting, exhorted, exhort, exhorts |
| Adjective | exhortatory |
| Adverb | None |
Example Sentences
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The coach gathered his team before the game and exhorted them to play their best and give it their all.
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The politician gave a stirring speech, exhorting the audience to vote and make their voices heard in the upcoming election.
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The motivational speaker exhorted the audience to believe in themselves and their abilities, and to never give up on their dreams.
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The teacher repeatedly exhorted her students to study hard and prepare for the upcoming exam.
Usage
The word “exhort” is a verb that means to strongly urge or encourage someone to take a particular course of action or to behave in a certain way. The word comes from the Latin “exhortari,” which means to encourage or to urge strongly.
The most common way to use “exhort” is in the present tense, with the subject coming before the verb. For example, “I exhort you to study hard for your exam.” The past tense of “exhort” is “exhorted,” as in “I exhorted him to tell the truth.”
There are a few variations of “exhort” that can be used to modify or intensify its meaning. The prefix “re-” can be added to the beginning of “exhort” to create “re-exhort,” which means to urge or encourage someone again, often after a previous attempt has failed. For example, “I will re-exhort my team to work harder next week.”
The suffix “-ation” can also be added to “exhort” to create “exhortation,” which is a noun that refers to the act of urging someone to do something. For example, “His exhortation to donate to charity inspired many people to give.”
Finally, the word “exhortative” can be used as an adjective to describe something that strongly urges or encourages someone to take a particular course of action. For example, “The exhortative tone of the speaker motivated the audience to take action.”
Overall, the word “exhort” is a useful verb for persuading or encouraging others to take action, and its various forms can add nuance and intensity to its meaning.