expose

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪkˈspoʊz/ UK /ɪkˈspəʊz/ See IPA manual

Freq #5431

Meanings

1

verb
To uncover something so that it can be seen.

Usage: For uncovering, expose takes the newly visible thing as its object. This sense can describe removing a covering or making something hidden visible.

The workers removed the plaster to expose the original brick wall.

The low tide exposed the rocks along the shore.
2

verb
To make secret or dishonest information known to the public.

The journalist exposed widespread corruption in the city government.
3

verb
To put someone in a dangerous or harmful situation.

Working without a mask exposed them to harmful dust.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to uncover something so... bare reveal

2 verb · to make secret or dishonest... disclose reveal uncover

More bewray nake undress

Word family

Forms exposedexposesexposing

Derived forms autoexposecoexposeexposableexposalexpositionexposomeexposurehyperexposeoverexposephotoexposereexposeunderexpose

Etymology

Through French exposer, influenced by poser, from Latin expōnō, to set forth, combining ex- with pōnō, whose infinitive is pōnere.

*tḱey- Proto-Indo-European exposen Middle English exposer Old French expōnō Latin espondre Old French ponere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# expose

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪkˈspoʊz/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪkˈspəʊz/
**Frequency rank:** 5431

## Meanings
1. To uncover something so that it can be seen.
2. To make secret or dishonest information known to the public.
3. To put someone in a dangerous or harmful situation.

## Usage Notes
- To uncover something so that it can be seen.: For uncovering, expose takes the newly visible thing as its object. This sense can describe removing a covering or making something hidden visible.

## Examples
- The workers removed the plaster to expose the original brick wall.
- The low tide exposed the rocks along the shore.
- The journalist exposed widespread corruption in the city government.
- Working without a mask exposed them to harmful dust.

## Synonyms
- bewray
- nake
- reveal
- undress

## Derived Forms
- autoexpose
- coexpose
- exposable
- exposal
- exposition
- exposome
- exposure
- hyperexpose
- overexpose
- photoexpose
- reexpose
- underexpose

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tḱey-
- Root: exposen
- Root: exposer
- Root: expōnō
- Root: espondre
- Root: ponere - to put

## Etymology
Through French exposer, influenced by poser, from Latin expōnō, to set forth, combining ex- with pōnō, whose infinitive is pōnere.

## AI Etymology
Expose comes 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. In current use, the main senses are “To uncover something so that it can be seen” and “To make secret or dishonest information known to the public”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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