What does "exposition" mean?
The action of exposing something to something, such as skin to the sunlight.
Exposition
/ɛkspəˈzɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The action of exposing something to something, such as skin to the sunlight.
- Grammar: exposition is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: exhibition, expo, allegorization, anacrusis.
- Useful contrasts: action, climax, coda.
- Usage evidence: I applied to be an attendant at the exposition.
How to use "exposition"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "exposition" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "exposition" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "exposition" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "exposition" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "exposition" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "exhibition" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "exposition", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The action of exposing something to something, such as skin to the sunlight. countable, uncountable
- 2 (music) the section of a movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes first occur wordnet
- 3 The act or process of declaring or describing something through either speech or writing, in nonfiction or in fiction; the portions and aspects of a piece of writing that exist mainly to describe or explain a set of things (such as, in fiction, the setting, characters and other non-plot elements). countable, uncountable
"This essay has too much exposition in it."
- 4 an account that sets forth the meaning or intent of a writing or discourse wordnet
- 5 The act of expulsion, or being expelled, from a place. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 a systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a specific topic wordnet
- 7 An exhibition, especially of goods, artwork or cultural displays to the public. countable, uncountable
"The first prototype was unveiled at an exposition."
- 8 a collection of things (goods or works of art etc.) for public display wordnet
- 9 An essay or speech in which any topic is discussed in detail. countable, uncountable
"I turned my research into an exposition on the traditional music of Borneo."
- 10 An opening section in fiction, in which background information about the characters, events or setting is conveyed. countable, uncountable
- 11 The opening section of a movement in sonata form; the opening section of a fugue. countable, uncountable
- 12 The abandonment of an unwanted child. countable, uncountable
Antonyms
Example
"I applied to be an attendant at the exposition."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "exposition"?
Common synonyms include: exhibition, expo, allegorization, anacrusis, apercu, apocalypse.
How do you use "exposition" in a sentence?
I applied to be an attendant at the exposition.
How do you pronounce "exposition"?
Pronounced /ɛkspəˈzɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English exposicioun, from Old French esposicion, from Latin expositiō, from expōnere (“to put forth”). The sense meaning "exhibition" is a later semantic loan from French exposition.