exhaust

/ɪɡˈzɔːst/

//ɪɡˈzɔːst// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"exhaust" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“exhaust” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,467 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#9,467
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To draw or let out wholly; to drain completely.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

exhaust vs exhausts
88% similar
exhaust vs exhausted
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for exhaust
PropertyValue
Headwordexhaust
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪɡˈzɔːst/
Letters7
Frequency rank#9,467
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “exhaust” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). exhaust lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for exhaust is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪɡˈzɔːst/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,467 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for exhaust, with forms such as "ehxaust", "exahust", and "exhasut". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "exhausts", "exhausted", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin exhaustus, past participle of exhaurīre (“to draw out, drink up, empty, exhaust”), from ex (“out”) + haurīre (“to draw (especially water), drain”). The correct English form is exhaust, spelled E-X-H-A-U-S-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To draw or let out wholly; to drain completely.
  2. 2
    To empty by drawing or letting out the contents.
  3. 3
    To use up; to deplete, drain or expend wholly, or use until the supply comes to an end.
  4. 4
    To tire out; to wear out; to cause to be without any energy.
  5. 5
    To discuss thoroughly or completely.
  6. 6
    To subject to the action of various solvents in order to remove all soluble substances or extractives.
  7. 7
    To expel (as exhaust).
  8. 8
    To discharge or escape (as exhaust).

Etymology

From Latin exhaustus, past participle of exhaurīre (“to draw out, drink up, empty, exhaust”), from ex (“out”) + haurīre (“to draw (especially water), drain”).

Synonyms

spendconsumetire outwearytucker

This word in other languages

agotar(Español)épuiser(Français)erschöpfen(Deutsch)esvaziar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ehxaust,exahust,exhasut,exhausst,exhaustt,exhauts,exhhaust,exhuast,exxhaust,xehaust

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of exhaust - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ehxaust2exahust2exhasut2exhausst1exhaustt1exhauts2exhhaust1exhuast2
Edit distance from "exhaust"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "exhaust"?
"exhaust" is spelled E-X-H-A-U-S-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzɔːst/.
What does "exhaust" mean?
As a verb, "exhaust" means: To draw or let out wholly; to drain completely.
What words are commonly confused with "exhaust"?
"exhaust" is commonly confused with "exhausts", "exhausted". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "exhaust"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "exhaust" is /ɪɡˈzɔːst/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "exhaust"?
From Latin exhaustus, past participle of exhaurīre (“to draw out, drink up, empty, exhaust”), from ex (“out”) + haurīre (“to draw (especially water), drain”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “exhaust”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-H-A-U-S-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪɡˈzɔːst/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “exhausts” - see the side-by-side comparison. exhaust vs exhausts
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list