expose

¹

[ ik-spohz ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·posed, ex·pos·ing.

1. to lay open to danger, attack, harm, etc.:

   to expose soldiers to gunfire;

   to expose one's character to attack.

   Synonyms: jeopardize, imperil, endanger, subject

2. to lay open to something specified:

   to expose oneself to the influence of bad companions.

   Antonyms: shield, protect

3. to uncover or bare to the air, cold, etc.:

   to expose one's head to the rain.

4. to present to view; exhibit; display:

   The storekeeper exposed his wares.

5. to make known, disclose, or reveal (intentions, secrets, etc.).

   Synonyms: betray, unveil, uncover

   Antonyms: hide, conceal

6. to reveal or unmask (a crime, fraud, impostor, etc.):

   to expose a swindler.

7. to hold up to public reprehension or ridicule (fault, folly, a foolish act or person, etc.).
8. to desert in an unsheltered or open place; abandon, as a child.
9. to subject, as to the action of something:

   to expose a photographic plate to light.

exposé

²

[ ek-spoh-zey ]

noun

1. a public exposure or revelation, as of something discreditable:

   Certain cheap magazines make a fortune out of sensational exposés.

expose

¹

/ ɪkˈspəʊz /

verb

1. to display for viewing; exhibit
2. to bring to public notice; disclose; reveal

   to expose the facts

3. to divulge the identity of; unmask
4. foll by to to make subject or susceptible (to attack, criticism, etc)
5. to abandon (a child, animal, etc) in the open to die
6. foll by to to introduce (to) or acquaint (with)

   he was exposed to the classics at an early age

7. photog to subject (a photographic film or plate) to light, X-rays, or some other type of actinic radiation
8. RC Church to exhibit (the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic) for public veneration
9. expose oneself
   expose oneself to display one's sexual organs in public

exposé

²

/ ɛksˈpəʊzeɪ /

noun

1. the act or an instance of bringing a scandal, crime, etc, to public notice
2. an article, book, or statement that discloses a scandal, crime, etc

Derived Forms

• exˈposer, noun
• exˈposable, adjective
• exˈposal, noun

Other Words From

• ex·posa·ble adjective
• ex·posa·bili·ty noun
• ex·poser noun
• self-ex·posing adjective
• unex·posa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expose¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English exposen, from Old French exposer, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + poser “to put” ( pose ¹ ), replacing Latin expōnere “to put out, expose, set forth in words”; expound

Origin of expose²

First recorded in 1795–1805; from French, noun use of past participle of exposer expose

Word History and Origins

Origin of expose¹

C15: from Old French exposer, from Latin expōnere to set out; see exponent

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. expose oneself, to exhibit one's body, especially one's genitals, publicly in an immodest or exhibitionistic manner.

Example Sentences

In 2016, São Paulo accidentally exposed the medical information of 365,000 patients from the public health system.

From MIT Technology Review

It’s exposing the cost structure, and we need to evaluate how much you can charge for food.

From Fortune

So far in 2020, the highest converting articles from LinkedIn are a piece on how the economic crisis will expose a decade’s worth of corporate fraud, and one on the gulf between the stock market and the real economy.

From Digiday

TV ratings have long served as the only way networks could tell advertisers how many and, broadly, what type of viewers were exposed to their ads.

From Quartz

Keep in mind that the towels will shrink slightly after they’re first exposed to water.

From Popular-Science

Shirtless bros with pillowy lips and cargo pants pulled down to expose tufts of pubic hair.

From The Daily Beast

When MTV first started airing The Real World, it was meant to expose the brutal truth about human nature.

From The Daily Beast

However, this practice does potentially expose hunters to the pathogens carried on these animals.

From The Daily Beast

Drones need be matched with deeds that expose the false precepts of Al Qaeda's narrative.

From The Daily Beast

He praised Snowden for having the “balls” to expose the crimes of the NSA.

From The Daily Beast

He should give the bailee notice of all the faults in the thing bailed that would expose him to danger or loss in keeping it.

From Project Gutenberg

The pair told Ritter what they thought of him, and each declared that he was going to expose the bully to Captain Putnam.

From Project Gutenberg

Biggert was killed because he was about to expose somebody who had forged that check which is lying on your desk.

From Project Gutenberg

In old times he would have been exposed as soon as he came into the world; and to expose him would have been a kindness.

From Project Gutenberg

Each reindeer had fought too many battles to expose himself to such blows.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bare
• bring to light
• disclose
• display
• open
• prove
• uncover
• unmask