- 1exploit something (disapproving) to treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself He exploited his father's name to get himself a job. She realized that her youth and inexperience were being exploited. The opposition parties will always exploit government problems to their own advantage. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbmercilessly, ruthlessly, cynically, … See full entry
- 2exploit somebody (disapproving) to treat somebody unfairly by making them work and not giving them much in return What is being done to stop employers from exploiting young people? Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbmercilessly, ruthlessly, cynically, … See full entry See related entries: Pay and conditions at work
- 3exploit something to use something well in order to gain as much from it as possible She fully exploits the humour of her role in the play. Teachers should be exploiting computers in education. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbextensively, heavily, fully, … verb + exploitbe determined to, be keen to, hope to, … See full entry
- 4to develop or use something for business or industry exploit something No minerals have yet been exploited in Antarctica. exploit something for something countries exploiting the rainforests for hardwood Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French esploit (noun), based on Latin explicare ‘unfold’, from ex- ‘out’ + plicare ‘to fold’. The early notion of ‘success, progress’ gave rise to the sense ‘attempt to capture’, ‘military expedition’, hence the current sense of the noun. Verb senses (mid 19th cent.) are from modern French exploiter.Extra examples Birds exploit these wind patterns to the fullest. Companies are moving in to exploit the natural resources of the area. He pursued his own interests, cynically exploiting his privileged position as trustee. He was determined to exploit the potential of this new discovery. She was eager to exploit her discovery commercially. The architect has cleverly exploited new materials and building techniques. The company has been successful in exploiting new technology to the full. The team were quick to exploit their competitive advantage. The workers are ruthlessly exploited by their employers. They were quick to exploit the economic possibilities of the situation. He exploited his father’s name to get himself a job. They were hoping to exploit any weaknesses the other team might have. This legal loophole has been ruthlessly exploited by many unscrupulous investors. What is being done to stop employers from exploiting immigrants?
verb jump to other results
BrE BrE//ɪkˈsplɔɪt//; NAmE NAmE//ɪkˈsplɔɪt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they exploit BrE BrE//ɪkˈsplɔɪt//; NAmE NAmE//ɪkˈsplɔɪt//
he / she / it exploits BrE BrE//ɪkˈsplɔɪts//; NAmE NAmE//ɪkˈsplɔɪts//
past simple exploited BrE BrE//ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪd//
past participle exploited BrE BrE//ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪd//; NAmE NAmE//ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪd//
-ing form exploiting BrE BrE//ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪŋ//
Pay and conditions at workCheck pronunciation: exploit
