to lay open to danger, attack, harm, etc..
to expose soldiers to gunfire;
to expose one's character to attack.
to lay open to something specified.
to expose oneself to the influence of bad companions.
to uncover or bare to the air, cold, etc..
to expose one's head to the rain.
to present to view; exhibit; display.
The storekeeper exposed his wares.
to make known, disclose, or reveal (intentions, secrets, etc.).
to reveal or unmask (a crime, fraud, impostor, etc.).
to expose a swindler.
to hold up to public reprehension or ridicule (fault, folly, a foolish act or person, etc.).
to desert in an unsheltered or open place; abandon, as a child.
to subject, as to the action of something.
to expose a photographic plate to light.
to display for viewing; exhibit
to bring to public notice; disclose; reveal
to expose the facts
to divulge the identity of; unmask
(foll by to) to make subject or susceptible (to attack, criticism, etc)
to abandon (a child, animal, etc) in the open to die
(foll by to) to introduce (to) or acquaint (with)
he was exposed to the classics at an early age
photog to subject (a photographic film or plate) to light, X-rays, or some other type of actinic radiation
RC Church to exhibit (the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic) for public veneration
to display one's sexual organs in public
the act or an instance of bringing a scandal, crime, etc, to public notice
an article, book, or statement that discloses a scandal, crime, etc
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English exposen, from Old French exposer, equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + poser “to put” ( see pose 1), replacing Latin expōnere “to put out, expose, set forth in words”; see expound
First recorded in 1795–1805; from French, noun use of past participle of exposer expose
To expose means to uncover or allow to be in the open air. If you take off your coat and expose your bare arms to the terrible cold, your tattoos might freeze off. (Note: We don’t actually know if this is physically possible.) When you pronounce expose as it’s spelled, it can mean to leave out in the air, to put in peril (when you expose someone to danger), or to uncover. All of those examples are actions. However, when you pronounce it as though there is a French accent on the final "e," ex-poh-ZAY, it means the unmasking or exposure of something hidden (and usually bad or fraudulent), as when you watch an expose on 60 Minutes about the evils of frozen orange juice or some other toxic substance.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A sustained break below this level would expose the next major area around $4,000 per ounce, the analyst says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Shirley rose to fame in 2025 with shady videos claiming to expose daycare fraud in Minnesota.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
They stand in a line with arms intertwined and swing their heads back to expose their faces to the clouds.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Cases like Kelver’s expose key contradictions at the heart of our cherished rhetoric of armed self-defense.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026
I was the first in the field and I have the right to expose it.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
