Standard Lemma guide

exploit

noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • ĕks'ploit
  • /ˈɛksplɔɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔɪt
  • ĭksploit'
  • /ɪksˈplɔɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH1 K S P L OY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: EH2 K S P L OY1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A heroic or extraordinary deed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An achievement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The first trek to the summit of Mount Everest was a stunning exploit.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A program or technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability in other software.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An action or technique that takes advantage of the conditions of a video game to gain an advantage, or to disadvantage others.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet, broadly

Topics: video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To use (something) to someone's advantage, such as one's own benefit or a society's benefit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to exploit natural resources in a sustainable way

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: take advantage of, use, utilize

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To make unfair use of someone else's labor, person, or property to one's own advantage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Materialistic people who exploit others will come to a bad end.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

a notable achievement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he performed a great feat
  • the book was her finest effort

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: feat, effort

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: accomplishment, achievement

Narrower terms: derring-do, hit, rally, rallying, stunt, tour de force

8

verb

Meaning 8

use or manipulate to one's advantage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He exploit the new taxation system
  • She knows how to work the system
  • he works his parents for sympathy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: work

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ

Narrower terms: make hay, play, avail, help, prey, feed, use

9

verb

Meaning 9

draw from; make good use of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we must exploit the resources we are given wisely

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tap

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ

Narrower terms: maximize, maximise, harness, mine, quarry, overexploit, commercialize, milk

10

verb

Meaning 10

work excessively hard

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he is exploiting the students

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: overwork

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: work, put to work

Narrower terms: overdrive

History

Etymology

From Old French esploit (noun), esploitier (verb).

Across languages

Translations

138 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مَأْثُرَة (maʔṯura) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Belarusian: по́дзвіг (pódzvih) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Belarusian: вы́чын (výčyn) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Bulgarian: по́двиг (pódvig) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Catalan: fita — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Catalan: proesa — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Catalan: gesta — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Chinese Mandarin: 功勛 /功勋 (gōngxūn) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Chinese Mandarin: 勛績 /勋绩 (xūnjì, xūnjī) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Chinese Mandarin: 偉業 /伟业 (wěiyè) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Danish: bedrift — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Danish: heltebedrift — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Dutch: heldendaad — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Esperanto: heroaĵo — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Finnish: urotyö — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Finnish: sankariteko — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • French: exploit — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • German: Heldentat — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Greek: κατόρθωμα (katórthoma) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Hungarian: hőstett — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Ido: prodajo — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Ido: heroajo — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Italian: gesto eroico — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Italian: gesta eroiche — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Italian: gesta — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Italian: prodezza — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Japanese: 偉業 (igyō) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Korean: 위업 (wieop) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Korean: 공훈 (gonghun) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Macedonian: подвиг (podvig) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Māori: rāwekeweke — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Māori: mahi rāwekeweke — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Māori: haumāuiui — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Norwegian: bragd — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Polish: wyczyn — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Portuguese: façanha — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Portuguese: proeza — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Romanian: faptă de vitejie — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Romanian: faptă eroică — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Russian: по́двиг (pódvig) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Russian: сверше́ние (sveršénije) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Russian: дея́ние (dejánije) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Scottish Gaelic: cleas — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Spanish: hazaña — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Spanish: proeza — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Spanish: gesta — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Spanish: heroicidad — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Spanish: hombrada — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Spanish: empresa — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Swedish: bragd — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Swedish: hjältebragd — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Swedish: hjältedåd — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Swedish: stordåd — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Swedish: bedrift — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Ukrainian: по́двиг (pódvyh) — heroic or extraordinary deed
  • Bulgarian: постиже́ние (postižénie) — achievement
  • Danish: bedrift — achievement
  • Dutch: wapenfeit — achievement
  • Finnish: saavutus — achievement
  • Greek: κατόρθωμα (katórthoma) — achievement
  • Italian: impresa — achievement
  • Italian: prestazione — achievement
  • Italian: risultato — achievement
  • Italian: raggiungimento — achievement
  • Italian: espletamento — achievement
  • Russian: достиже́ние (dostižénije) — achievement
  • Russian: сверше́ние (sveršénije) — achievement
  • Scottish Gaelic: cleas — achievement
  • Spanish: proeza — achievement
  • Spanish: logro — achievement
  • Spanish: hazaña — achievement
  • Swedish: prestation — achievement
  • Dutch: exploit — computing security
  • Finnish: hyökkäysohjelma (program) — computing security
  • Finnish: hyökkäyskoodi — computing security
  • Finnish: hyökkäystapa — computing security
  • Finnish: hyökkäyskeino — computing security
  • French: exploit — computing security
  • German: Exploit — computing security
  • Polish: exploit — computing security
  • Portuguese: exploit — computing security
  • Russian: эксплойт (eksplojt) — computing security
  • Russian: вредоносный код (vredonosnyj kod) — computing security
  • Russian: взлом (vzlom) — computing security
  • Spanish: exploit — computing security
  • Spanish: instrumentalización — computing security
  • Spanish: vulnerabilidad — computing security
  • Arabic: اِسْتَغَلَّ (istaḡalla) — use for one’s advantage
  • Azerbaijani: istismar etmək — use for one’s advantage
  • Bulgarian: използвам (izpolzvam) — use for one’s advantage
  • Bulgarian: експлоатирам (eksploatiram) — use for one’s advantage
  • Catalan: explotar — use for one’s advantage
  • Chinese Mandarin: 利用 (lìyòng) — use for one’s advantage
  • Chinese Mandarin: 剝削 /剥削 (bōxuē) — use for one’s advantage
  • Chinese Mandarin: 開發 /开发 (kāifā) — use for one’s advantage
  • Czech: využít — use for one’s advantage
  • Danish: udnytte — use for one’s advantage
  • Dutch: exploiteren — use for one’s advantage
  • Dutch: uitbuiten — use for one’s advantage
  • Esperanto: ekspluati — use for one’s advantage
  • Finnish: käyttää hyväkseen — use for one’s advantage
  • Finnish: riistää — use for one’s advantage
  • French: exploiter — use for one’s advantage
  • Galician: explotar — use for one’s advantage
  • German: ausnutzen — use for one’s advantage
  • German: ausbeuten — use for one’s advantage
  • Hebrew: ניצל (nitsél) — use for one’s advantage
  • Hungarian: kihasznál — use for one’s advantage
  • Ido: explotar — use for one’s advantage
  • Italian: sfruttare — use for one’s advantage
  • Italian: avvantaggiarsi — use for one’s advantage
  • Italian: approfittare — use for one’s advantage
  • Japanese: 搾取する (sakushusuru) — use for one’s advantage
  • Latvian: izmantot — use for one’s advantage
  • Latvian: izkalpināt — use for one’s advantage
  • Lithuanian: išnaudoti — use for one’s advantage
  • Māori: makihuhunu — use for one’s advantage
  • Norwegian: utnytte — use for one’s advantage
  • Old English: brūcan — use for one’s advantage
  • Polish: wykorzystywać — use for one’s advantage
  • Polish: wyzyskiwać — use for one’s advantage
  • Portuguese: explorar — use for one’s advantage
  • Portuguese: explotar — use for one’s advantage
  • Romanian: exploata — use for one’s advantage
  • Romanian: abuza — use for one’s advantage
  • Russian: эксплуати́ровать (ekspluatírovatʹ) — use for one’s advantage
  • Russian: пользоваться (polʹzovatʹsja) — use for one’s advantage
  • Scottish Gaelic: dèan feum de — use for one’s advantage
  • Serbo-Croatian: израбити (izrabiti) — use for one’s advantage
  • Spanish: explotar — use for one’s advantage
  • Spanish: aprovechar — use for one’s advantage
  • Spanish: instrumentalizar — use for one’s advantage
  • Swedish: exploatera — use for one’s advantage
  • Swedish: utnyttja — use for one’s advantage
  • Ottoman Turkish: صاغمق (sağmak) — use for one’s advantage
  • Ukrainian: експлуатувати (ekspluatuvaty) — use for one’s advantage
  • Welsh: gweithio — use for one’s advantage
  • ǃXóõ: ǂgàa — use for one’s advantage