be exposed

USAGE SUMMARY

"be exposed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been shown or made known; for example, "He was embarrassed when his lies were exposed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It needs to be exposed".

The New York Times

The first to be exposed were ministers.

The Economist

Bad management techniques will be exposed.

The Economist

"This guy needs to be exposed".

The New York Times

"We do not want to be exposed".

The New York Times - Sports

In time whole families would be exposed.

The New York Times

What needs to be exposed?

The Guardian

I don't want Stakeknife to be exposed.

The Guardian

I felt it had to be exposed".

The Guardian - Business

She let the body be exposed.

The New York Times

4. The BNP needs to be exposed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be exposed", ensure clarity about what is doing the exposing and what is being exposed. For instance, "The company's fraudulent activities will be exposed by the investigation".

Common error

Avoid using "be exposed" without a clear understanding of passive voice. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what is performing the action of exposing. For example, instead of "The data could be exposed", specify: "The data could be exposed by a security breach".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be exposed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject undergoes the action of being revealed or uncovered. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. For instance, "secrets will be exposed".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be exposed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive verb phrase that indicates something is revealed or uncovered. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Its usage is prevalent in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what is doing the exposing and what is being exposed. Related phrases include "be revealed" and "be uncovered". While generally neutral, the formality level can increase in academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be revealed

Focuses on the act of making something known or visible that was previously hidden.

be uncovered

Emphasizes the process of discovering or bringing something to light, often after a period of concealment.

be disclosed

Highlights the formal or official act of revealing information, often with a sense of confidentiality.

be made public

Stresses the act of information becoming accessible to everyone.

be brought to light

Suggests a more investigative or deliberate uncovering of something, often with an implication of importance.

be unveiled

Often used when something is revealed in a ceremonial or celebratory way.

be laid bare

Implies a complete and often ruthless exposure of something, leaving it vulnerable.

be brought out into the open

Highlights removing something from secrecy and placing it in public view.

be made visible

Focuses on making something able to be seen, whether literally or figuratively.

become known

Shifts the focus to the state of being known, rather than the act of revealing.

FAQs

How can I use "be exposed" in a sentence?

Use "be exposed" to indicate that something is revealed or uncovered. For example, "The truth will be exposed during the trial" or "The documents were be exposed to sunlight".

What are some alternatives to "be exposed"?

You can use alternatives like "be revealed", "be uncovered", or "be disclosed" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "be exposed" instead of "reveal"?

"Be exposed" is used in the passive voice, indicating that something is acted upon. "Reveal" is active, showing someone or something doing the action. For example, "The scandal will be exposed" (passive) versus "The journalist will reveal the scandal" (active).

Is there a difference between "be exposed" and "be subjected"?

"Be exposed" often implies a revealing of something previously hidden, while "be subjected" suggests undergoing or experiencing something, often unpleasant. For example, "The painting will be exposed to the public" versus "The experiment will be subjected to rigorous testing".