exposed

UK: /ɪkˈspəʊzd/ US: (ik spōzd′)

From the verb expose: (⇒ conjugate)

exposed is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•posed  (ik spōzd′), adj. 

1. left or being without shelter or protection:
   The house stood on a windy, exposed cliff.
2. laid open to view; unconcealed:
   an exposed king of spades.
3. susceptible to attack;
   vulnerable.

• expose + -ed² 1620–30

ex•pos•ed•ness  (ik spō′zid nis), n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

exposed / ɪkˈspəʊzd/ adjective

1. not concealed; displayed for viewing
2. without shelter from the elements
3. susceptible to attack or criticism; vulnerable

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•pose /ɪkˈspoʊz/   v. [~ + object] , -posed, -pos•ing. 

1. to lay open to danger, attack, or harm:
   the risk of exposing people to disease.
2. to uncover;
   bare:
   to expose one's head to the rain.
3. to present to view;
   exhibit.

See -pos-.
ex•po•sé /ˌɛkspoʊˈzeɪ/   n. [countable]

1. a public revelation, as of something dishonest:
   a magazine exposé on political corruption.

See -pos-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•pose  (ik spōz′), v.t., -posed, -pos•ing. 

1. to lay open to danger, attack, harm, etc.:
   to expose soldiers to gunfire; to expose one's character to attack.
2. to lay open to something specified:
   to expose oneself to the influence of bad companions.
3. to uncover or bare to the air, cold, etc.:
   to expose one's head to the rain.
4. to present to view;
   exhibit;
   display:
   The storekeeper exposed his wares.
5. to make known, disclose, or reveal (intentions, secrets, etc.).
6. to reveal or unmask (a crime, fraud, impostor, etc.):
   to expose a swindler.
7. to hold up to public reprehension or ridicule (fault, folly, a foolish act or person, etc.).
8. to desert in an unsheltered or open place;
   abandon, as a child.
9. Photography to subject, as to the action of something:
   to expose a photographic plate to light.
10. 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•ble, adj. 
ex•pos′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
ex•pos′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. subject, endanger, imperil, jeopardize.
• 5. uncover, unveil, betray.

Antonyms

• 2. protect, shield.
• 5. conceal, hide, cover up.

ex•po•sé  (ek′spō zā′), n. 

1. 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::

expose / ɪkˈspəʊz/ verb (transitive)

1. to display for viewing; exhibit
2. to bring to public notice; disclose; reveal
3. to divulge the identity of; unmask
4. (followed by to) to make subject or susceptible (to attack, criticism, etc)
5. to abandon (a child, animal, etc) in the open to die
6. (followed by to) to introduce (to) or acquaint (with)
7. to subject (a photographic film or plate) to light, X-rays, or some other type of actinic radiation
8. expose oneself ⇒ to display one's sexual organs in public

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French exposer, from Latin expōnere to set out; see exponent

exˈposable adjective

exˈposal noun

exˈposer noun