exposition
noun
ex·po·si·tion
ˌek-spə-ˈzi-shən 
1
: a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing)
2
a
: discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand
b(1)
: the first part of a musical composition in sonata form in which the thematic material of the movement is presented
(2)
: the opening section of a fugue
3
: a public exhibition or show
Examples of exposition in a Sentence
This is not an easy book, and the reader may find the layers of detail challenging. There are long expositions of the knotty tangles of monarchical lineage, and the necessary chronicle of historical events occasionally consumes the novel's narrative drive.
—
Lucy Lethbridge, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009
He is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it—skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly.
—Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000
Although they were invited to use an early X ray machine on display at the exposition, they turned down the offer, and they never found the bullet.
—T. Burton Smith, American Heritage, September 1992
The subject requires some exposition.
a clear exposition of his ideas
Lucy Lethbridge, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009
He is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it—skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly.
—Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000
Although they were invited to use an early X ray machine on display at the exposition, they turned down the offer, and they never found the bullet.
—T. Burton Smith, American Heritage, September 1992
The subject requires some exposition.
a clear exposition of his ideas
Recent Examples on the Web
And each episode is glacially paced, with far too many exposition dumps.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
For a movie centered on the irrational, his version of the tale is substantially rationalized, with many exchanges and set pieces dramatically expanded to furnish the plot with more specific exposition and the characters with more explicit motives.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
So much of the show consists of speeches, tours, grand expositions — people speaking and singing to and with large crowds.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
The movie is inspired by the audacious true story of the American government’s plot to steal a Soviet spacecraft during a 1959 exposition in Mexico City.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for exposition 
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Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
For a movie centered on the irrational, his version of the tale is substantially rationalized, with many exchanges and set pieces dramatically expanded to furnish the plot with more specific exposition and the characters with more explicit motives.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
So much of the show consists of speeches, tours, grand expositions — people speaking and singing to and with large crowds.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
The movie is inspired by the audacious true story of the American government’s plot to steal a Soviet spacecraft during a 1959 exposition in Mexico City.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for exposition
Dictionary Entries Near exposition
Cite this Entry
“Exposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exposition. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exposition
noun
ex·po·si·tion
ˌek-spə-ˈzish-ən
1
: an explanation of something
2
: a piece of writing that explains
3
: the first part of a piece of music in which the theme is presented
4
: a public exhibition
expositor
noun
ik-ˈspäz-ət-ər
expository
adjective
ik-ˈspäz-ə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
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