overexpose

American  

[oh-ver-ik-spohz] / ˌoʊ vər ɪkˈspoʊz /

verb (used with object)

overexposed, overexposing

1. to expose too much, as to the sun, cold, or light rays (often used reflexively).

   Be careful of overexposing yourself to the sun.

2. Photography. to expose (a film or the like) to too much light.

---

overexpose British  

/ ˌəʊvərɪksˈpəʊz /

verb

1. to expose too much or for too long

2. photog to expose (a film, plate, or paper) for too long a period or with too bright a light

---

Other Word Forms

• overexposure
  noun

Etymology

Origin of overexpose

First recorded in 1865–70; over- + expose

Explanation

If you take a photograph in harsh sunlight, you may overexpose it, or ruin it with too much bright light. It might look cool and arty, but it’s usually just a washed out mess. Redo! A bright, washed out photograph that has no sharp details or clear highlights can be the result when you overexpose it. Another way to overexpose is to leave someone open to too much risk or public attention — a pushy stage parent may overexpose a child actor to the media, for example, in an attempt to make them famous. The photography meaning dates from the invention of photography itself in the nineteenth century.

Example Sentences

“We have to make sure we don’t overexpose him,” Balelo said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2025

“We really tried to save Geno as much as we could, not overexpose him because it’s been such a short span of time since the strain.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2023

In telescope digital cameras, they appear as bright streaks of light, which block stars and astronomical objects as well as overexpose the entire field of view.

From Scientific American • Nov. 7, 2022

As photographers take Nellie’s picture leaving the theater, the flashes of light overexpose the frame, “so you feel almost accosted by the flashbulbs, by the crowd,” Chazelle said.

From New York Times • Nov. 2, 2022

Both phones had a tendency to slightly overexpose images, and LG had the sharper shot more often than HTC, but that was due to the former company’s continued over-reliance on artificial sharpening.

From The Verge • Oct. 16, 2017