From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishexploitex‧ploit1 /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] 1 TREAT/BEHAVE TOWARDSto treat someone unfairly by asking them to do things for you, but giving them very little in return – used to show disapproval Homeworkers can easily be exploited by employers.2 to try to get as much as you can out of a situation, sometimes unfairly The violence was blamed on thugs exploiting the situation.3 USE somethingto use something fully and effectively The new TV companies are fully exploiting the potential of satellite transmission.► see thesaurus at use4 to develop and use minerals, forests, oil etc for business or industry the urgent need to exploit the resources of the Irish Sea —exploitable adjective —exploiter noun [countable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
exploit• The factory's largely Hispanic workforce is underpaid and exploited.• The country's natural resources have not yet been fully exploited.• Second, they may wish to exploit advantages of scale.• Many employers are only too ready to exploit and underpay female part-time workers.• Peasants in remote areas of the country were being shamelessly exploited by wealthy land owners.• Christmas has been exploited for commercial reasons.• Measure are being taken to stop employment agencies exploiting foreign workers desperate to find a job.• Opposition leaders were quick to exploit government embarrassment over the incident.• The core material covers the syllabus in depth, and can be exploited in different ways with different types of class.• The country could exploit its position as a major oil producer to push up world oil prices.• These ironworks were built in 173 6 and were worked for 130 years, exploiting local iron ore deposits.• We need to do a better job of exploiting our natural resources.• Priests were not always above exploiting the fear.• Many 'New Age' therapists simply exploit the hopes and fears of sick people who would be better off going to their own doctor.• loan sharks who exploit the poor by charging up to 1000% interest per year.• Britain consistently fails to exploit the scientific discoveries made in its universities.• Those filtering the information have also frequently exploited their position to select and control the flow for their own purposes.• Maybe the firms exploited women employees or relied on child labor.exploitex‧ploit2 /ˈeksplɔɪt/ noun [countable usually plural] DOa brave and exciting adventure that someone has hadexploit of the daring exploits of the British Parachute RegimentExamples from the Corpus
exploit• protests against the exploitation of children in the clothing industry• Many script kiddies are quickly caught, often because they boast of their hacking exploits or are betrayed by their internet names.• This was not his last military exploit, however.• Peden was not armed and did not take part in the band's less reputable exploits.• But those in favour of the second chamber say it will survive Jamie's exploits.• Kids will love these stories about Annie Oakley's exploits.• Tales of Stan's exploits are legendary.• To mention Kaptan was to devalue the exploit.• Perhaps Louis was also stung by the threatened negation of his own youthful exploits on the March.From Longman Business Dictionaryexploitex‧ploit /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ verb [transitive]1to use something fully and effectively in order to gain a profit or advantageNew TV companies are fully exploiting the potential of satellite transmission.the ways in which natural resources are exploited2to treat someone unfairly in order to make money or to get an advantage for yourselfThe system is unjust in that it enables the owners to exploit the workers. —exploitation noun [uncountable]International oil companies have been seen as symbols of imperialist exploitation.→ See Verb tableOrigin exploit1 (1500-1600) Old French esploit “result, success”, from Latin explicitus, from explicare; → EXPLICATE 