exposition
noun
ex·po·si·tion
ˌek-spə-ˈzi-shən 
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
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
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 on the Web
Chess bogs its narrator down with needless exposition and jokes more deserving of an eye roll than a laugh.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025
Isla’s character, Henley, was written out with just a line of exposition, and audiences were just forced to accept Lula in her place.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Nov. 2025
After this brief sequence that ends in a relatively easy boss fight, the demo jumps ahead past a bunch of exposition and story set up (all of which are under wraps at Nintendo’s request).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
Despite the years of material the film needs to fill in, its large cast of screenwriters keeps a lot of exposition admirably economical (well, until the finale).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exposition
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Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025
Isla’s character, Henley, was written out with just a line of exposition, and audiences were just forced to accept Lula in her place.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Nov. 2025
After this brief sequence that ends in a relatively easy boss fight, the demo jumps ahead past a bunch of exposition and story set up (all of which are under wraps at Nintendo’s request).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
Despite the years of material the film needs to fill in, its large cast of screenwriters keeps a lot of exposition admirably economical (well, until the finale).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exposition
Cite this Entry
“Exposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exposition. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exposition
noun
ex·po·si·tion
ˌek-spə-ˈzish-ən
1
: an explanation of something
2
: a piece of writing that explains
3
: the first part of a piece of music in which the theme is presented
4
: a public exhibition
expositor
noun
ik-ˈspäz-ət-ər
expository
adjective
ik-ˈspäz-ə-ˌtōr-ē,
-ˌtȯr-
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