exposed
Americanadjective
-
left or being without shelter or protection.
The house stood on a windy, exposed cliff.
-
laid open to view; unconcealed.
an exposed king of spades.
-
susceptible to attack; vulnerable.
adjective
-
not concealed; displayed for viewing
-
without shelter from the elements
-
susceptible to attack or criticism; vulnerable
-
mountaineering (of a climb, pitch, or move) performed on a high, sheer, and unsheltered rock face
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exposed
Explanation
Something that's exposed is uncovered or unprotected. An exposed hillside isn't sheltered by hills, trees, or buildings, but is completely open to the wind and weather. If you venture out on a bitterly cold day with no gloves, your exposed fingers might get frostbite, and a soldier in battle with no body armor is dangerously exposed. If you leave a wooden chair outside all year long, exposed to rain and snow and sun, it will eventually fall apart. Exposed comes from the verb expose, "leave without shelter or defense," from the Latin root exponere, "lay open or reveal."
Vocabulary lists containing exposed
"Slam: Performance Poetry Lives On" and "Euphoria"
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!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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!
Uh-Oh: Synonyms for "Dangerous"
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!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Hass delicately puts it, “The open divergences between Washington and its partners over the war’s legitimacy, execution, and fallout have exposed fissures that risk metastasizing to other issue areas over time.”
From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026
And an inexperienced XI including three debutants has been exposed by New Zealand, who look set to level the series at 1-1 to force a decide at Trent Bridge.
From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026
As frozen ground degrades, previously buried minerals become exposed and water interacts more extensively with rock surfaces.
From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026
The body panels have exposed fasteners, allowing—even encouraging—DIY’ers to swap out panels and upgrade exterior features, such as fog lights, signals, headlights and taillights.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
Her dad often did work high above the ground, sometimes even trotting across exposed beams in half-built skyscrapers to fix problems left behind by automated cranes.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
