exposure
/ɪkˈspəʊʒə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspəʊʒər/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspō-zhər/ (ame, mw)
exposure — noun
- exposuresingular
- exposuresplural
1. A situation where you encounter something — often something harmful such as radi
A situation where you encounter something — often something harmful such as radiation, chemicals, or a disease, or something unfamiliar such as a different culture or a new idea.
Long-term exposure to the sun can damage your skin and cause early wrinkles.
exposure to + [harmful element]
After years of exposure to loud machinery, Hiro began to lose his hearing.
Living in Japan gave Naoko valuable exposure to a completely different way of life.
The factory installed new fans to reduce workers' exposure to dangerous dust in the air.
Even short periods of exposure to cold water can help improve your blood circulation.
- contact
more neutral and physical; does not carry the sense of danger or learning
- vulnerability
focuses on being unprotected rather than the encounter itself
- experience
broader; implies active participation rather than passive contact
- protection
the state of being shielded from harm or outside influences
文法句型
exposure + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun phrase describing what is encountered. The noun phrase can refer to either harmful things (chemicals, radiation, disease) or beneficial ones (new ideas, culture, music). Frequently uncountable.
常見錯誤
2. The act of making public something dishonest, illegal, or shameful that a person
The act of making public something dishonest, illegal, or shameful that a person or organization had tried to keep hidden.
The newspaper's exposure of the mayor's secret payments shocked the whole town.
exposure of + [secret wrongdoing]
Bilal feared exposure would end his political career before it could properly begin.
The journalist won an award for her exposure of corruption in the city's housing department.
Christopher's exposure of the company's fake safety reports led to a government investigation.
- revelation
more neutral; can be positive or negative
- disclosure
more formal; often used in legal or financial contexts
- uncovering
similar meaning, more dramatic in tone
- cover-up
the act of hiding wrongdoing
- concealment
the act of keeping something secret
文法句型
exposure + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically used with the preposition 'of' to specify what is revealed. Often occurs in contexts of journalism, whistle-blowing, and legal investigations. Can be used as a countable singular ('an exposure') or uncountable depending on emphasis.
常見錯誤
3. The amount of attention that a person, event, product, or issue receives from ne
The amount of attention that a person, event, product, or issue receives from newspapers, television, social media, or other forms of public communication.
The charity event gained wide exposure after a famous singer agreed to take part.
gain/get/receive exposure
Small businesses need media exposure to compete with larger companies in their field.
The documentary about ocean pollution received international exposure after winning an award.
Sirin used social media to increase exposure for her new online clothing store.
- publicity
more active; often implies a deliberate effort to attract attention
- coverage
specifically refers to news or media reporting
- visibility
focuses on how easily something is seen or noticed
- obscurity
the state of being unknown or unnoticed
文法句型
exposure + in [media]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with verbs like 'gain', 'get', 'receive', 'increase', or 'give'. Unlike sense 2, this sense does not involve anything secret or shameful — it simply describes how widely something is seen or discussed.
常見錯誤
4. A medical emergency that happens when a person stays outside in freezing tempera
A medical emergency that happens when a person stays outside in freezing temperatures without adequate protection, causing the body to lose heat and reach dangerously low levels.
The hikers suffered from exposure after being trapped on the mountain overnight.
suffer from exposure
Without proper clothing, exposure to freezing temperatures can kill a person within hours.
The rescue team found the lost climber suffering from severe exposure in the snow.
Vikram was treated for exposure after spending six hours outside in the freezing rain.
- hypothermia
the precise medical term; 'exposure' is a broader lay term
- frostbite
specifically refers to frozen tissue, not the overall drop in body temperature
文法句型
suffer from exposure
die of exposure
用法筆記
In this sense, 'exposure' is a medical term and is NOT followed by 'to' with a specific substance — the cold is implied. Do not use 'exposure' to mean 'hypothermia' in everyday informal speech; it is most common in news reports, rescue accounts, and medical writing.
常見錯誤
5. In photography, either (a) how long light reaches the film or digital sensor whe
In photography, either (a) how long light reaches the film or digital sensor when taking a picture, or (b) a single frame or shot on a roll of film.
The photographer adjusted the exposure to capture more detail in the dark room.
adjust the exposure
A fast shutter speed lets you use a shorter exposure for action shots of moving athletes.
There are only twelve exposures left on this roll of film before it is finished.
Naoko changed the exposure settings on her camera to brighten the photo of the harbour.
- shutter speed
only refers to the time the shutter is open, not the whole concept
- shot
informal term for a single photograph, but does not include the light-duration meaning
文法句型
adjust the exposure
long exposure
short exposure
用法筆記
As a countable noun, 'exposure' means each individual photo frame on a film roll ('36 exposures per roll'). As an uncountable noun, it refers to the duration or amount of light reaching the sensor. Distinguish from sense 3 (public attention) — if the sentence involves a camera, this sense is intended.
常見錯誤
6. The direction that a building, room, or window faces, especially in terms of how
The direction that a building, room, or window faces, especially in terms of how much sunlight it receives during the day.
The house has a southern exposure, so the living room stays warm all winter.
southern/northern/eastern/western exposure
Plants that need lots of sunlight do best in a window with a western exposure.
When buying an apartment, Isabela considered the exposure of each room very carefully.
A northern exposure means the kitchen receives very little direct sunlight during the day.
- orientation
more general; can refer to any kind of positioning, not just sunlight
- aspect
formal term used in architecture for the direction a building faces
文法句型
[direction] + exposure
have a [direction] exposure
用法筆記
Almost always used with a compass direction: 'southern exposure', 'northern exposure', etc. Common in real-estate listings and interior design discussions. Does not apply to portable objects — only buildings or permanent structures.
常見錯誤
7. The amount of money that a person, company, or investment fund could lose becaus
The amount of money that a person, company, or investment fund could lose because of changes in the value of stocks, currencies, loans, or other financial products.
The bank reduced its exposure to risky loans after the economic crisis began.
reduce exposure to + [financial risk]
Investors worried about their exposure to the technology sector during the market downturn.
Mathieu advised his clients to limit their exposure to foreign currency price changes.
The company's heavy exposure to the oil industry made it vulnerable when prices dropped.
- hedge
a strategy used to reduce financial risk or exposure
文法句型
exposure + to + [financial product/market]
have + exposure
用法筆記
Common in banking, insurance, and investment contexts. Frequently used with verbs like 'reduce', 'limit', 'increase', 'manage'. The preposition 'to' introduces the type of risk (e.g., 'exposure to the housing market', 'exposure to foreign debt'). Can be countable ('a large exposure') or uncountable.