exhausting
Pronouncedihg-ZAWS-tihng
adjectiveMaking someone feel very tired and without energy.
verbUsing up all of something until none is left.
verbEmptying something completely by taking out all its contents.
verbDiscussing a subject so thoroughly that there is nothing more to say about it.
Syllables
3 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: X says “gz”
Sound“gz”·/ɡz/
X can say “gz” (a buzzing 'gz'), like in 'example' and 'exact'.
X usually says /ks/ (box, fox), but in some words — often when a stressed vowel follows — it says the voiced “gz”: exam, exact, example, exist, exhaust, exhibit.
Tip
X can buzz — exam, exact, example!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent H
Sound“silent”
In a few words the H is silent — like 'hour', 'honest', and 'exhaust'.
Most H's are sounded (hat, hope), but in a small set of words the H is silent: hour, honest, honor, heir, herb, and after X in exhaust and exhibit. These are memorized.
Tip
An honest hour — the H is silent!
Examples
Phonics Rule: AU Vowel Team
Sound“aw”·/ɔː/
When A and U are together, they make the “aw” sound, like in 'author' and 'pause'.
The vowel team AU makes the “aw” sound (same as AW). It appears in the middle of words. Examples: author, pause, fault, haunt, cause.
Tip
AU says aw — author, pause, fault!
Examples
Phonics Rule: ST Blend
Sound“st”·/st/
S and T blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'stop' and 'fast'.
The blend ST combines /s/ and /t/ spoken quickly together. It can appear at the beginning or end of a word.
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -ING
Sound“ing”·/ɪŋ/
Adding -ING to a verb shows something is happening right now, like 'running' and 'playing'.
The suffix -ing is added to verbs to show an ongoing action (present participle). Sometimes the base word changes: drop silent E ('make' → 'making'), double final consonant ('run' → 'running').
Examples
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