underexpose

U1N1D2E1R1E1X8P3O1S1E1

verb

To take a photograph using too small an exposure

Opposite
Scrabble 21

Meanings

verbunderexpose (third-person singular simple present underexposes, present participle underexposing, simple past and past participle underexposed)

present singular third person underexposes · participle present underexposing · participle past underexposed · past underexposed

  1. artsTo take a photograph using too small an exposure
  2. To provide with insufficient publicity
adjectiveunderexpose (comparative more underexpose, superlative most underexpose)

comparative more underexpose · superlative most underexpose

  1. artsThe condition when a photograph is darker than it should be because the film was not exposed to sufficient light either because the camera aperture was too small or the duration of light was too short.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbexpose to too little light

Opposite
Broader

verbexpose insufficiently

Opposite
Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁entér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂én
  4. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-?
  5. Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰí
  6. Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰér
  7. Proto-Germanic*under
  8. Proto-West Germanic*undar
  9. Old Englishunder-
  10. Middle Englishunder-
  11. Englishunder-
  12. Englishexpose
  13. Englishunderexpose

From under- + expose.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish alivalottaa
  • alivalottaain photography
French sous-exposer, sous-exposer
  • sous-exposerin photography
  • sous-exposerto provide with insufficient publicity
German unterbelichten
  • unterbelichtenin photography
Hungarian alulexponál
  • alulexponálin photography
Māori huranga pore
  • huranga poredarkened of photographs due to insufficient light
Portuguese subexpor, subexposto
  • subexporin photography
  • subexpostodarkened of photographs due to insufficient light
Cite this entry
APA

underexpose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underexpose

MLA

“underexpose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underexpose. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “underexpose,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underexpose.

Source: underexpose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.