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.
"They haven't been exposed to it, but they will when we get our act together," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
The protests, which culminated in the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan last month, exposed deep frustration among young Indians over access to jobs and educational opportunities.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Around Neptune, a destructive event may have exposed material that scientists would otherwise never be able to examine directly.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
That pandemic hit children and younger and middle-aged adults harder than seniors, who likely had been exposed to an older version of the H1N1 virus when they were younger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
By then the chef had exposed me to the exciting flavors and sauces of French cuisine, and I’d developed a taste for them.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
