exposed; exposing
1
a
: to deprive of shelter, protection, or care : subject to risk from a harmful action or condition
expose troops needlessly
has not yet been exposed to measles
Loosening roof shingles exposed the wood underneath.
b
: to submit or make accessible to a particular action or influence
expose children to good books
They were exposed to harmful chemicals.
especially : to subject (a sensitive photographic film, plate, or paper) to radiant energy
c
: to abandon (an infant) especially by leaving in the open
2
a
: to make known : bring to light
expose a shameful secret
b
: to disclose the faults or crimes of
—often used with as
expose a con man
exposed her as a cheat
exposer noun
ex·po·sé ˌek-spō-ˈzā 
-spə-
variants or less commonly expose
1
: a formal statement of facts
2
: an exposure of something discreditable
a newspaper exposé of government corruption
Examples of expose in a Sentence
Verb The shingles had fallen off, exposing the wood underneath. Undercover investigators exposed the scam. They threatened to expose him. Noun a newspaper exposé of government corruption The show aired an exposé on the candidate's financial indiscretions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026 Then the Earthquakes, second place in the Western Conference, added to their club-record start to a season by exposing a fatigued Black & Gold side that was third in the west coming into the contest. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026 But the allegations did not catch the public’s attention, or law enforcement’s, until 2018, when the Miami Herald published an expose about the plea deal in Florida. —David Ingram, NBC news, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expose
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
That leaves firms which relied on cheap, abundant credit during the low-rate era of 2010s and early 2020s more exposed, with weaker companies struggling to roll over debt or exit investments. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026 Then the Earthquakes, second place in the Western Conference, added to their club-record start to a season by exposing a fatigued Black & Gold side that was third in the west coming into the contest. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Her expose, The Devil’s Candy,’ becoming a bestseller and seminal study of what can go wrong in moviemaking, despite the best efforts of top filmmaking and actor talent. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026 But the allegations did not catch the public’s attention, or law enforcement’s, until 2018, when the Miami Herald published an expose about the plea deal in Florida. —David Ingram, NBC news, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expose
Cite this Entry
“Expose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/expose. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expose
1 of 2 verb
ex·pose ik-ˈspōz
exposed; exposing
1
a
: to leave without shelter, protection, or care
b
: to make open to an action or influence
expose students to good books
had been exposed to measles
especially : to let light fall on (photographic film)
2
: to make known
expose a dishonest scheme
3
: to put on display
exposer noun
exposé
2 of 2 noun
ex·po·sé
ˌek-spō-ˈzā
: an exposing of something disgraceful
Medical Definition
expose
transitive verb
ex·pose ik-ˈspōz
exposed; exposing
1
: to subject to risk from a harmful action or condition
children exposed to measles
2
: to lay open to view: as
a
: to conduct (oneself) as an exhibitionist
b
: to reveal (a bodily part) especially by dissection
Legal Definition
expose
transitive verb
ex·pose
exposed; exposing
1
: to subject to risk from a harmful action or condition: as
a
: to make (one) open to liability or financial loss
b
: to leave (a child) uncared-for and lacking shelter from the elements
2
: to cause to be visible or open to view: as
a
: to offer publicly for sale
all of which I shall expose for sale at public auction—Detroit Law Journal
Detroit Law Journal
b
: to purposely uncover (one's private body parts) or leave open to view in a place or situation in which such conduct is likely to be deemed offensive or indecent especially as set forth by statute
see also indecent exposure
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