to display for viewing; exhibit to bring to public notice; disclose; reveal to divulge the identity of; unmask - (followed by to)
to make subject or susceptible (to attack, criticism, etc) to abandon (a child, animal, etc) in the open to die - (followed by to)
to introduce (to) or acquaint (with) to subject (a photographic film or plate) to light, X-rays, or some other type of actinic radiation - expose oneself ⇒
to display one's sexual organs in public
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ex•pose /ɪkˈspoʊz/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -posed, -pos•ing.
ex•po•sé /ˌɛkspoʊˈzeɪ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to lay open to danger, attack, or harm:the risk of exposing people to disease.
- to uncover;
bare:to expose one's head to the rain. - to present to view;
exhibit.
ex•po•sé /ˌɛkspoʊˈzeɪ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
- a public revelation, as of something dishonest:a magazine exposé on political corruption.
ex•pose
(ik spōz′),USA pronunciation v.t., -posed, -pos•ing.
ex•pos′a•ble, adj.
ex•pos′a•bil′i•ty, n.
ex•pos′er, n.
ex•po•sé (ek′spō zā′),USA pronunciation n.
- to lay open to danger, attack, harm, etc.:to expose soldiers to gunfire; to expose one's character to attack.
- to lay open to something specified:to expose oneself to the influence of bad companions.
- to uncover or bare to the air, cold, etc.:to expose one's head to the rain.
- to present to view;
exhibit;
display:The storekeeper exposed his wares. - to make known, disclose, or reveal (intentions, secrets, etc.).
- to reveal or unmask (a crime, fraud, impostor, etc.):to expose a swindler.
- to hold up to public reprehension or ridicule (fault, folly, a foolish act or person, etc.).
- to desert in an unsheltered or open place;
abandon, as a child. - Photographyto subject, as to the action of something:to expose a photographic plate to light.
- Idioms expose oneself, to exhibit one's body, esp. one's genitals, publicly in an immodest or exhibitionistic manner.
- Old French exposer, equivalent. to ex- ex-1 + poser to put (see pose1), rendering Latin expōnere to put out, expose, set forth in words; see expound
- late Middle English exposen 1425–75
ex•pos′a•bil′i•ty, n.
ex•pos′er, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged subject, endanger, imperil, jeopardize.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged uncover, unveil, betray.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged protect, shield.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged conceal, hide, cover up.
ex•po•sé (ek′spō zā′),USA pronunciation n.
- a public exposure or revelation, as of something discreditable:Certain cheap magazines make a fortune out of sensational exposés.
- French, noun, nominal use of past participle of exposer to expose
- 1795–1805
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
the act or an instance of bringing a scandal, crime, etc, to public notice
'expose to the air' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):