expose

1 of 2

verb

ex·pose ik-ˈspōz

exposed; exposing

Synonyms of expose next

transitive verb

: 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

: 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

: to abandon (an infant) especially by leaving in the open

: to make known : bring to light

expose a shameful secret

: to disclose the faults or crimes of

expose a murderer

: to cause to be visible or open to view : display: such as

: to offer publicly for sale

: to exhibit for public veneration

: to reveal the face of (a playing card) or the cards of (a player's hand)

: to engage in indecent exposure of (oneself)

exposer noun

exposé

2 of 2

noun

ex·po·sé ˌek-spō-ˈzā

-spə-

variants or less commonly expose

: a formal statement of facts

: 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

Example Sentences

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

Aim to expose your money tree to bright, indirect sunlight six hours a day, and only water it when the soil is dry. —

Monique Valeris, Good Housekeeping, 19 Mar. 2023 The changes, implemented under former President Donald Trump, lifted the asset threshold for banks required to undergo stress tests to expose a bank's vulnerabilities in times of economic turmoil. —

Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2023 Instead, the film’s personal and social obstacles expose Aronofsky’s schematic method. —

Armond White, National Review, 15 Mar. 2023 The school will incorporate the Explore Pathways model, which is meant to expose students to different careers. —

Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2023 Many on the right say that attacking the LGBTQ community is a means to protect children, but their actions actually expose people—including children—to violence. —

Tori Otten, The New Republic, 14 Mar. 2023 These errors, called extravasations or infiltrations, can affect the procedure and expose healthy tissue to potentially high doses of radiation. —

Daniel Fass And David Townsend, STAT, 14 Mar. 2023 The parades and meeting new people because you really get expose to a lot of new opportunities. —

oregonlive, 10 Mar. 2023 Doncic is masterful at manipulating defenses to expose poor frontcourt defense and thrived last season in a No. 1-seed upset over the Phoenix Suns. —

Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2023

Noun

Part 2 of the expose reveals just how close Jones is with past and present members of the extremist group the Proud Boys. —

Will Carless, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2023 In an interview with SPIN about the book, the guitarist forwent the salacious expose for a psychological study on himself. —

Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Jan. 2023 The reversal, confirmed to the Free Press by Ford CEO Jim Farley, happened in real time as the expose was ready to publish. —

Detroit Free Press, 7 Jan. 2023 Los Angeles Times expose revealed the organization had no Black members among its ranks, and alleged that some voters had received gifts from productions. —

Marisa Dellatto, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023 In 2021 the Los Angeles Times did an expose on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the body that votes on who wins a Golden Globe. —

Allyson Portee, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023 The Daily Caller picked up Campbell's expose later that day, essentially reposting his whole piece. —

Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 5 June 2012 If what the Times says is true, this is the sort of expose that is going to cause an uproar. —

Chris Mooney, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2011 Brendan Maher’s sabotage expose and David Adams’s interview with Phil Jones. —

Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2010 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Expose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expose. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

expose

1 of 2 verb

ex·pose ik-ˈspōz

exposed; exposing

: to leave without shelter, protection, or care

: 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)

: to make known

expose a dishonest scheme

: 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

exposed; exposing

: to subject to risk from a harmful action or condition

children exposed to measles

: to lay open to view: as

: to conduct (oneself) as an exhibitionist

: to reveal (a bodily part) especially by dissection

Legal Definition

expose

transitive verb

ex·pose

exposed; exposing

: to subject to risk from a harmful action or condition: as

: to make (one) open to liability or financial loss

: to leave (a child) uncared-for and lacking shelter from the elements

: to cause to be visible or open to view: as

: to offer publicly for sale

all of which I shall expose for sale at public auction—

Detroit Law Journal

: 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