exposition

[ ek-spuh-zish-uhn ]

/ ˌɛk spəˈzɪʃ ən /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: exposition / expositional on Thesaurus.com

noun

a large-scale public exhibition or show, as of art or manufactured products: an exposition of 19th-century paintings; an automobile exposition.

the act of expounding, setting forth, or explaining: the exposition of a point of view.

writing or speech primarily intended to convey information or to explain; a detailed statement or explanation; explanatory treatise: The students prepared expositions on familiar essay topics.

the act of presenting to view; display: The singer gave a splendid exposition of vocal talent.

exposure (def. 12).

the state of being uncovered, revealed, or otherwise exposed; exposure.

Music. the first section of a fugue or a sonata form, in which the principal themes normally are introduced.

(in a play, novel, etc.) dialogue, description, etc., that gives the audience or reader the background of the characters and the present situation.

OTHER WORDS FOR exposition

1 exhibit, demonstration, display, presentation.

3 elucidation, commentary; critique, interpretation, exegesis, explication.

See synonyms for exposition on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of exposition

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English exposicioun, exposicyon, from Old French exposition, from Latin expositiōn- (stem of expositiō “exposure (of an infant to die); statement, description),” equivalent to exposit(us); + -iōn- ; see expose,-ion

OTHER WORDS FROM exposition

ex·po·si·tion·al, adjectivepre·ex·po·si·tion, nounre·ex·po·si·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use exposition in a sentence

Brevity ensures that “Rest and Be Thankful” isn’t hamstrung by a lack of character development, but for a book so rich with interiority, the exposition can feel willfully opaque.
Emma Glass’s ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ powerfully describes what it means to be a health-care worker|Pete Tosiello|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
Pauli’s note to Jung that month was one of his longest, including a long description of a dream and exposition about symmetries in physics.
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung - Issue 93: Forerunners|Paul Halpern|November 18, 2020|Nautilus
Doom Eternal’s levels are an absolute delight, a great mix of exploration, exposition, and danger.
Doom Eternal Is the Best Doom Game Ever Made, Period|Matthew Gault|March 19, 2020|Time

British Dictionary definitions for exposition

exposition

/ (ˌɛkspəˈzɪʃən) /

noun

a systematic, usually written statement about, commentary on, or explanation of a specific subject

the act of expounding or setting forth information or a viewpoint

a large public exhibition, esp of industrial products or arts and crafts

the act of exposing or the state of being exposed

the part of a play, novel, etc, in which the theme and main characters are introduced

music the first statement of the subjects or themes of a movement in sonata form or a fugue

RC Church the exhibiting of the consecrated Eucharistic Host or a relic for public veneration

Derived forms of exposition

expositional, adjective

Word Origin for exposition

C14: from Latin expositiō a setting forth, from expōnere to display; see exponent

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

exposition

OTHER WORDS FOR exposition

Origin of exposition

OTHER WORDS FROM exposition

Words related to exposition

How to use exposition in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exposition

Derived forms of exposition

Word Origin for exposition