exert

He considered exerting his influence on John to gain an advantage for himself.

Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet

Di Matteo clearly saw Drogba's power as a potential threat to a Barcelona defence stripped of Gerard Pique - but he barely caught sight of goal in a first 45 minutes in which the Catalans exerted thei

You don't exert yourself much.

Your sense of humor is beginning to exert itself.

You should exert yourself to get better results.