expose

[ ik-spohz ]

/ ɪkˈspoʊz /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: expose / exposed / exposing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ex·posed, ex·pos·ing.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR expose

1 subject, endanger, imperil, jeopardize.

5 uncover, unveil, betray.

See synonyms for expose on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR expose

2 protect, shield.

5 conceal, hide, cover up.

See antonyms for expose on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about expose

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

Origin of expose

1425–75; late Middle English exposen<Old French exposer, equivalent to ex-ex-¹ + poser to put (see pose¹), rendering Latin expōnere to put out, expose, set forth in words; see expound

OTHER WORDS FROM expose

ex·pos·a·ble, adjectiveex·pos·a·bil·i·ty, nounex·pos·er, nounself-ex·pos·ing, adjective

un·ex·pos·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH expose

expose , exposé

Other definitions for expose (2 of 2)

exposé

[ ek-spoh-zey ]

/ ˌɛk spoʊˈzeɪ /

noun

a public exposure or revelation, as of something discreditable: Certain cheap magazines make a fortune out of sensational exposés.

Origin of exposé

1795–1805; <French, noun use of past participle of exposer to expose

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exposé

expose, exposé

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use expose in a sentence

Shirtless bros with pillowy lips and cargo pants pulled down to expose tufts of pubic hair.
Abercrombie & Ditch: The Fall of the House of Tween|Lizzie Crocker|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When MTV first started airing The Real World, it was meant to expose the brutal truth about human nature.
MTV’s Diem Brown Dies: When Reality TV Starts Getting Real|Kevin Fallon|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, this practice does potentially expose hunters to the pathogens carried on these animals.
Bats’ Link to Ebola Finally Solved|Carrie Arnold|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Drones need be matched with deeds that expose the false precepts of Al Qaeda's narrative.
Why’s Al Qaeda So Strong? Washington Has (Literally) No idea|Bruce Riedel|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He praised Snowden for having the “balls” to expose the crimes of the NSA.
The Bolshevik Who Thinks ‘The Nation’ Is Too Left Wing|Eli Lake|October 26, 2014|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.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The pair told Ritter what they thought of him, and each declared that he was going to expose the bully to Captain Putnam.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall|Arthur M. Winfield
Biggert was killed because he was about to expose somebody who had forged that check which is lying on your desk.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
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.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Each reindeer had fought too many battles to expose himself to such blows.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp

British Dictionary definitions for expose (1 of 2)

expose

/ (ɪkˈspəʊz) /

verb (tr)

to display for viewing; exhibit

to bring to public notice; disclose; revealto 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

expose oneself to display one's sexual organs in public

Derived forms of expose

exposable, adjectiveexposal, nounexposer, noun

Word Origin for expose

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

British Dictionary definitions for expose (2 of 2)

exposé

/ (ɛksˈpəʊzeɪ) /

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

expose

OTHER WORDS FOR expose

OPPOSITES FOR expose

Idioms about expose

Origin of expose

OTHER WORDS FROM expose

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH expose

Other definitions for expose (2 of 2)

Origin of exposé

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exposé

Words related to expose

How to use expose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for expose (1 of 2)

Derived forms of expose

Word Origin for expose

British Dictionary definitions for expose (2 of 2)