WordGarden.ioexposure
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛkspˈəʊʒə/
US
- /ɪkˈspoʊʒər/
Meanings
Noun
public attention or visibility for someone or something
the revealing of something hidden, secret, or dishonest
contact with a harmful condition, substance, disease, or environmental force
More meaningsFewer meanings
experience with something that helps someone learn or become familiar with it
the amount of light used in taking a photograph, or a photographed image
the amount of financial risk someone or something is subject to
Beyond the definition
Exposure can mean making something visible or known, like a photographer exposing film to light to capture an image, or a journalist exposing corruption. But it also describes being open to something, often something harmful or hard to avoid. A hiker might worry about exposure to the cold on a mountaintop, or a city dweller might talk about exposure to pollution. It can also refer to how much attention someone gets: "She's getting a lot of media exposure with her new book." Think of it as either bringing something into view, or being in contact with something outside you.
The word "exposure" carries a surprising amount of weight, shifting in meaning depending on context. At its core, exposure is about making something visible or making it susceptible to an outside force.
Think first of photography: when you expose film (or a digital sensor) to light, you capture an image. This idea extends metaphorically—a journalist might expose wrongdoing by bringing it to public attention, uncovering secrets previously hidden from view. "The investigation exposed a network of fraud."
But exposure isn't always about revelation. It can also describe being subjected to something, often an environmental element. Sailors worry about exposure to the harsh sea, and hikers fear exposure to the elements—wind, rain, and cold. This meaning implies vulnerability; a state of lacking protection from harm.
In a more modern sense, "exposure" refers to attention or publicity. A musician hopes for greater exposure through radio play, while a company might benefit from positive media exposure. This is about being seen and recognized by a wider audience.
Finally, in health contexts, "exposure" refers to coming into contact with a disease or harmful substance: "His exposure to the virus occurred earlier this week."
So, whether it's revealing secrets, facing the elements, gaining attention, or encountering risks, exposure always involves a degree of openness—a state of being seen, affected, or revealed.
Examples
- 1
Listening practice
Regular exposure to spoken English will help your listening improve.
- 2
Sunlight
Too much exposure to the sun can damage your skin.
- 3
Online safety
Young children should have limited exposure to violent content online.
- 4
Work experience
Working in sales gave her exposure to many different kinds of customers.
- Patterngive someone exposure to + people/things
give them experience of them
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Media attention
The band got a lot of media exposure after one of their songs went viral.
- 6
Hidden accounts
The investigation led to the exposure of several fake accounts.
- Patternthe exposure of + hidden thing
making it publicly known
- 7
Photography
I adjusted the camera's exposure and took the picture again.
- Domaincamera exposure
how much light reaches the image
- 8
Weather danger
The hikers were suffering from exposure when rescuers found them.
- Phrasesuffer from exposure
become ill after too much cold, wind, or rain
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- exposure to radiation
- prolonged exposure
- risk of exposure
- exposure to the elements
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- exposurenoun
Forms
- exposurespluralnoun