exposition

noun ex·po·si·tion \ ˌek-spə-ˈzi-shən \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Examples: exposition in a Sentence

Definition of exposition

1 : a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing)

2 a : discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand

b (1) : the first part of a musical composition in sonata form in which the thematic material of the movement is presented

(2) : the opening section of a fugue

3 : a public exhibition or show

—

expositional

play \ˌek-spə-ˈzish-nəl, -ˈzi-shə-nᵊl\ adjective

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Examples of exposition in a Sentence

This is not an easy book, and the reader may find the layers of detail challenging. There are long expositions of the knotty tangles of monarchical lineage, and the necessary chronicle of historical events occasionally consumes the novel's narrative drive. —Lucy Lethbridge, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009
He is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it—skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly. —Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000
Although they were invited to use an early X ray machine on display at the exposition, they turned down the offer, and they never found the bullet. —T. Burton Smith, American Heritage, September 1992
The subject requires some exposition.
a clear exposition of his ideas

Recent Examples of exposition from the Web

Historically, albums were statement pieces for artists—the culmination of weeks, or months, or years of work siphoned into a cohesive, crackling exposition.

— jason parham, WIRED, "Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Everything Is Love Marks a New Step in the Album's Evolution," 19 June 2018
Perhaps unsure of what to do during all this exposition, Mr. Magania breaks into dance moves.

— New York Times, "Review: ‘Radio Delirio’ Focuses on a Forgettable Man," 17 June 2018
Perhaps all this exposition stems from the good journalist's determination to provide context, but the whole enterprise labors under a heavy burden of explainism, accentuated by the novel's flat, irony-free prose.

— the washington post, latimes.com, "Jake Tapper's thrilling, uneven McCarthy-era Washington drama, 'The Hellfire Club'," 4 May 2018
Perhaps all this exposition stems from the good journalist's determination to provide context, but the whole enterprise labors under a heavy burden of explainism, accentuated by the novel's flat, irony-free prose.

— ron charles, chicagotribune.com, "Jake Tapper's new thriller blows the lid off corruption in Washington," 24 Apr. 2018
The Heinz Company displayed its wares at international expositions, spreading the gospel of ketchup throughout North America, the British Isles, and beyond.

— amy bentley, Smithsonian, "How Ketchup Revolutionized How Food Is Grown, Processed and Regulated," 4 June 2018
The pacing of the show is tight, although some moments of exposition can lag.

— theodore p. mahne, NOLA.com, "'Three Musketeers' is one for all and all for fun at NOMA Sculpture Garden," 12 May 2018
In the face of the playwright’s muddled symbolism and lengthy exposition, Wright moves this production briskly along.

— julia m. klein, Philly.com, "'Wild Duck' at Quintessence: Sleek, contemporary update of Ibsen," 8 Apr. 2018
The endless reintroductions could easily feel like exposition-dumps, but the hilarity of these huge personalities engaging each other instead provides some of the movie’s best moments.

— samantha nelson, The Verge, "How Avengers: Infinity War uses humor to solve its story problems," 9 May 2018

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