# expose

/ɪkˈspoʊz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/expose
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to reveal or uncover

verb · CEFR B2

to remove a cover so that something can be seen.

For teachers: to uncover or make something visible by removing a protective layer or concealment.

- 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.

### 2. to show the truth

verb · CEFR B2

to tell the public the truth about someone or something dishonest.

For teachers: to reveal the true, often dishonest or harmful, nature of a person or situation.

- 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.

### 3. to introduce to something

verb · CEFR B2

to give someone the chance to experience or learn about something new.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. contact with something harmful

verb · CEFR B2

to put someone in a situation where they are not protected from something dangerous.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. photography

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to let light touch a piece of film to take a photo.

For teachers: 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.

### 6. computing

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to make a part of a computer program available for other programs to use.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The sun will expose the bright colors of the painting.
- The investigative journalist worked for months to expose the corruption within the local government.
- By traveling to different continents, parents hope to expose their children to diverse cultures and perspectives that will broaden their understanding of the world.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.