Exposition

/ɛkspəˈzɪʃən/ · noun

Meaning

The action of exposing something to something, such as skin to the sunlight..

Definitions by Sense

1. The action of exposing something to something, such as skin to the sunlight.
2. (narratology) 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).
3. (obsolete) The act of expulsion, or being expelled, from a place.
4. An exhibition, especially of goods, artwork or cultural displays to the public.
5. (authorship) An essay or speech in which any topic is discussed in detail.
6. (narratology) An opening section in fiction, in which background information about the characters, events or setting is conveyed.
7. (music) The opening section of a movement in sonata form; the opening section of a fugue.
8. The abandonment of an unwanted child.

Example Sentences

This essay has too much exposition in it.

My reviewer said she couldn't picture the setting for my story, so I'm improving the exposition.

The first prototype was unveiled at an exposition.

I turned my research into an exposition on the traditional music of Borneo.

Synonyms for exposition

Antonyms for exposition

Related Words

Word Forms

• expositions

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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