expose

1 of 2

verb

ex·​pose ik-ˈspōz 

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 

-spə-

variants or less commonly expose

1

: a formal statement of facts

2

: an exposure of something discreditable

a newspaper exposé of government corruption

Synonyms

Verb

• debunk
• nail
• show up
• uncloak
• uncover
• undress
• unmask

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

Prigozhin has frequently criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s traditional military hierarchy, and his comments could further expose divisions in its ranks. —Aj Willingham, CNN, 25 May 2023

The case is being pursued by the U.S. Attorney's Office because a robbery involving drugs exposed King to federal statues governing violent actions in the context of interstate commerce, an agency spokesperson said. —David K. Li, NBC News, 24 May 2023

These, typically, should not be left outside, exposed to the elements, or used in the rain. —Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2023

But climate change has made the region hotter and drier and exposed how rules made over a century ago to share the river among Western states are inadequate to keep it from drying up. —Joshua Partlow, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023

The guard thought they were too exposed and didn’t want their location shared more widely, Singh said. —Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 17 May 2023

And the ensemble cast is superb at milking scenes for their comic potential while exposing the hidden meanings underneath. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 May 2023

On the access road, exposed patches of white sand glowed in his headlamp. —Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2023

Her stories led to changes in charter school laws, prompted a ban on Scientology in California public schools, and exposed cheating and censorship in testing. —Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 May 2023

Noun

However, a series of exposes by the Wall Street Journal, followed by multiple investigations by federal and state officials, revealed that Holmes had vastly overstated her technology's capabilities. —CBS News, 11 Apr. 2023

Clarke launched the defamation claim last spring, on the one year anniversary of the expose being published. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2023

Numerous business deals have been known to unravel under the bright light of media publicity cast at an inopportune time, so the expose could potentially throw a spanner in exploratory talks to sell a multimillion-dollar stake to venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2022

The Norway branch of Minhaj-ul-Quran, an international Muslim organization that is considered moderate and geared toward outreach, suspended Noor Ahmad Noor indefinitely following an expose published by the Vartland newspaper on his antisemitic statements. —sun-sentinel.com, 10 Aug. 2021

In this chilling expose, journalists crack open secret killings and Kremlin collusion that have kept the business of dirty wars above the law. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Mar. 2023

The reality of Maciel’s depravity burst into the public domain Feb. 23, 1997, when The Hartford Courant published a lengthy expose by investigative journalists Jason Berry and the late Gerald Renner about Maciel and the order, whose U.S. headquarters were based in Connecticut. —Nicole Winfield, courant.com, 23 Feb. 2022

While these women initially let Capote into their highly exclusive world, their friendship would later disintegrate following an expose by Capote in Esquire's November 1975 issue called Le Côte Basque, 1965, which essentially aired their dirty laundry. —Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 9 Feb. 2023

An expose of social issues? —Andy Meek, BGR, 26 Apr. 2022

See More

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

Phrases Containing expose

• expose oneself
• re-expose

• expose oneself
• re-expose

Kids Definition

expose

1 of 2 verb

ex·​pose ik-ˈspōz 

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 

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 auction

—Detroit 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