English Reference

Word

exploit

Phoneticsex·ploit, stress on the first syllable

/ˈɛksˌpɫɔɪt/

Definitions

01to use effectively

B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic

v. to use a situation or resource in a way that helps you.

v. to make full use of and derive benefit from a resource or situation. Transitive; usually carries a neutral or positive connotation in business and science.

“The company hopes to exploit new technology to reduce its carbon footprint.”

“The research team sought to exploit the unique properties of the new alloy to create more durable medical implants.”

Usage

Often followed by 'the potential of' or 'the opportunity to'.

Antonyms

02to treat unfairly

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to treat someone unfairly by making them work hard and not giving them enough in return.

v. to make use of a person or a group in a way that is considered unfair or unethical. Transitive; carries a strong negative moral judgement.

“Laws are in place to stop factories from exploiting young workers.”

“Critics argued that the gig economy often exploits vulnerable individuals who lack the protection of traditional employment contracts.”

Antonyms

03an adventure or deed

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. an exciting, brave, or funny action or adventure.

n. a bold or daring feat; often used in the plural to describe a series of notable adventures.

“The book tells the story of the pilot's many exploits during the war.”

“The documentary detailed the explorer's Arctic exploits, including his narrow escape from a collapsing ice shelf.”

Teaching tip

This noun sense is often used with a touch of irony or admiration in modern storytelling.

Antonyms

04software vulnerability

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a piece of software or a trick that uses a mistake in a computer program to break into it.

n. a piece of software, a chunk of data, or a sequence of commands that takes advantage of a bug or vulnerability to cause unintended behaviour.

“Hackers used a known exploit to steal data from the website.”

“Security researchers discovered a zero-day exploit that allowed unauthorised access to the operating system's kernel.”

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “exploit” in context.

Verb

01. exploit information

“Companies often exploit information gathered from social media to target their advertising.”

verb + noun

02. exploit potential

“The new manager is looking for ways to fully exploit the potential of the existing team.”

verb + noun

03. exploit resource

“We need to find a sustainable way to exploit this natural resource without damaging the environment.”

verb + noun

Real-World Examples

“Think of hedge funds as the market's arbitrageurs, or traders who exploit price differences for profit.”
Phys.org 18 Aug 2026
“Finally, the attacker exploits the access they have gained.”
The Conversation 4 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Old French esploit (noun), esploitier (verb).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

exploit(B2)

Domains

ComputingInternet

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference