Word
expose
Phoneticsex·pose, stress on the second syllable
/ɪkˈspoʊz/
Definitions
01to reveal or uncover
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to remove a cover so that something can be seen.
v. to uncover or make something visible by removing a protective layer or concealment.
日本語:露出する※
“The low tide exposed the sharp rocks that were usually hidden under the water.”
“The excavation exposed the original foundations of the medieval cathedral, providing archaeologists with a clearer map of the city's historical layout.”
02to show the truth
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to tell the public the truth about someone or something dishonest.
v. to reveal the true, often dishonest or harmful, nature of a person or situation.
日本語:暴露する※
“The newspaper article exposed the company's plan to dump waste in the river.”
“The investigative report exposed a systemic failure within the regulatory body, leading to immediate calls for legislative reform.”
Synonyms
03to introduce to something
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to give someone the chance to experience or learn about something new.
v. to bring someone into contact with a particular subject, idea, or experience.
“The school trip exposed the students to many different types of modern art.”
“Studying abroad for a year exposed her to diverse cultural perspectives that fundamentally altered her approach to international law.”
Synonyms
04contact with something harmful
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science
v. to put someone in a situation where they are not protected from something dangerous.
v. to subject someone or something to a harmful action, substance, or influence.
“You should not expose your skin to the sun for too long without protection.”
“The laboratory study aimed to determine how long the bacteria could survive when exposed to extreme ultraviolet radiation.”
05photography
C1 · Advanced Photography Technical
v. to let light touch a piece of film to take a photo.
v. to allow light to reach a light-sensitive surface, such as film or a digital sensor, for a specific duration.
“If you open the back of the camera, you will expose the film and ruin the pictures.”
“The photographer chose to expose the frame for several minutes to capture the faint movement of the stars across the night sky.”
06computing
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
v. to make a part of a computer program available for other programs to use.
v. to make specific functions, data, or interfaces accessible to other software components or external systems.
“The new update will expose more features to the users through the main menu.”
“The API was designed to expose only the necessary data endpoints, ensuring that sensitive internal logic remained hidden from third-party developers.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “expose” in context.
Verb
01. expose a scandal
“The investigative journalist worked for months to expose a scandal involving the local government.”
verb + noun
02. expose a secret
“He was afraid that his former partner would expose his secret to the press.”
verb + noun
03. expose children to music
“It is important to expose children to classical music at an early age to foster appreciation.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
04. expose the truth
“The documentary aims to expose the truth about the fashion industry's environmental impact.”
verb + noun
Preposition
05. exposed to radiation
“Workers at the plant were accidentally exposed to high levels of radiation.”
verb + prep + noun
06. exposed to the elements
“The hikers were dangerously exposed to the elements after their tent blew away in the storm.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
07. cruelly expose the flaws
“The bright stage lights cruelly exposed the flaws in the aging actor's makeup.”
adv + verb
08. publicly expose the corruption
“The whistleblower decided to publicly expose the corruption within the banking sector.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Matilda’s story exposes everything that is wrong with the system.” “Few phones and cameras create these digital fingerprints, and most websites and apps don’t expose C2PA data in images (you can look at C2PA data with various online tools , though).” Etymology
From Middle English exposen, from Old French exposer (“to lay open, set forth”), from Latin expōnō (“set forth”), with contamination from poser (“to lay, place”). Doublet of expone and expound (via Old French espondre (“to set forth, explain”)), from the same Latin term.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
01. expose oneself
Domains
- 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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QR code
englishreference.com/q/expose
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0