expose

1 of 2

verb

ex·​pose ik-ˈspōz How to pronounce expose (audio)
exposed; exposing

transitive verb

1
a
: to deprive of shelter, protection, or care : subject to risk from a harmful action or condition
expose troops needlessly
has not yet been exposed to measles
b
: to submit or make accessible to a particular action or influence
expose children to good books
especially : to subject (a sensitive photographic film, plate, or paper) to radiant energy
c
: to abandon (an infant) especially by leaving in the open
2
a
: to make known : bring to light
expose a shameful secret
b
: to disclose the faults or crimes of
expose a murderer
3
: to cause to be visible or open to view : display: such as
a
: to offer publicly for sale
b
: to exhibit for public veneration
c
: to reveal the face of (a playing card) or the cards of (a player's hand)
d
: to engage in indecent exposure of (oneself)
exposer noun

exposé

2 of 2

noun

ex·​po·​sé ˌek-spō-ˈzā How to pronounce exposé (audio)
-spə-
variants or less commonly expose
1
: a formal statement of facts
2
: an exposure of something discreditable
a newspaper exposé of government corruption
Choose the Right Synonym for expose

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention.

show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

showed her snapshots to the whole group

exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

exhibit paintings at a gallery

display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

display sale items

expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

parading their piety for all to see

flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Examples of expose in a Sentence

Verb The shingles had fallen off, exposing the wood underneath. Undercover investigators exposed the scam. They threatened to expose him. Noun a newspaper exposé of government corruption The show aired an exposé on the candidate's financial indiscretions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Since steel and silver react to one another, the work’s colors and textures change over time, like skin exposed to sun. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 The outsize role of shelter inflation means that homeowners and renters whose leases haven’t changed are experiencing inflation very differently from those who were more exposed to rising housing costs. Ben Harris, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 The balloons were then popped, one by one, to fully expose the 26-year-old artist. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 For instance, the back of her dress had a lace-up detail that exposed her backside. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024 Getting vaccinated within 72 hours of being exposed to measles can prevent the infection. The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024 As monthly debt payments take up more of workers’ paychecks, those consumers are more exposed to potential economic contractions. Claire Ballentine, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 Excommunicated from New York, after penning several stories exposing his socialite friends’ darkest secrets, and banished to Los Angeles, Capote seeks refuge in the home of Carson. Meredith Woerner, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 The addition of Matter should mean that Ikea lights can be exposed to any compatible Matter platform through the Dirigera hub. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 4 Mar. 2024
Noun
That same day, his anticorruption movement released a 110-minute expose detailing years of graft by Putin and his cronies. Anna Nemtsova, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024 The good thing about this is that figuring out what those paths are exposes where the attackers could potentially impact the organization. Christine Bejerasco, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 This page-turner is more than a damning expose of a charismatic P.T. Barnum–like leader. Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2023 Stories from the shocking, unauthorized expose about Ray Dalio and Bridgewater Associates have circulated far and wide since it was published earlier this month. Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2023 Demand for hospice care will grow dramatically as the population ages, but staff shortages, corporate profiteering and a rash of Medicare fraud and billing scandals have roiled the industry, with recent exposes in the L.A. Times and a joint ProPublica-New Yorker investigation. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023 In 2022, Honest Reporting published an expose showing that then-CNN producer Idris Mukhtar Ibrahim apparently praised Hamas and Hitler, prompting the outlet to stop working with him. Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2023 Greece’s railways long suffered from chronic mismanagement, including lavish spending on projects that were eventually abandoned or significantly delayed, Greek media have reported in several exposes. Demetris Nellas and Costas Kantouris, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2023 Following the expose into Brand, which was published on Sep. 16, the BBC, Channel 4 and Banijay UK, which employed Brand at various stages of his career and during the period where the allegations are said to have occurred, have each launched their own internal investigations. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French exposer, from Latin exponere to set forth, explain (perfect indicative exposui), from ex- + ponere to put, place — more at position

Noun

French exposé, from past participle of exposer

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of expose was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near expose

Cite this Entry

“Expose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expose. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

expose

1 of 2 verb
ex·​pose ik-ˈspōz How to pronounce expose (audio)
exposed; exposing
1
a
: to leave without shelter, protection, or care
b
: to make open to an action or influence
expose students to good books
had been exposed to measles
especially : to let light fall on (photographic film)
2
: to make known
expose a dishonest scheme
3
: to put on display
exposer noun

exposé

2 of 2 noun
ex·​po·​sé
ˌek-spō-ˈzā
: an exposing of something disgraceful

Medical Definition

expose

transitive verb
ex·​pose ik-ˈspōz How to pronounce expose (audio)
exposed; exposing
1
: to subject to risk from a harmful action or condition
children exposed to measles
2
: to lay open to view: as
a
: to conduct (oneself) as an exhibitionist
b
: to reveal (a bodily part) especially by dissection

Legal Definition

expose

transitive verb
ex·​pose
exposed; exposing
1
: to subject to risk from a harmful action or condition: as
a
: to make (one) open to liability or financial loss
b
: to leave (a child) uncared-for and lacking shelter from the elements
2
: to cause to be visible or open to view: as
a
: to offer publicly for sale
all of which I shall expose for sale at public auctionDetroit Law Journal
b
: to purposely uncover (one's private body parts) or leave open to view in a place or situation in which such conduct is likely to be deemed offensive or indecent especially as set forth by statute see also indecent exposure

More from Merriam-Webster on expose

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