whiten

verb

whit·​en ˈ(h)wī-tᵊn 

whitened; whitening ˈ(h)wīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to make white or whiter

snow whitened the hills

intransitive verb

: to become white or whiter

Synonyms

• blanch
• bleach
• blench
• decolorize
• dull
• fade
• pale
• snow
• wash out

Examples of whiten in a Sentence

His hair whitened as he aged.

Bleach will whiten the linens.

The new toothpaste whitens teeth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Skip a trip to the dentist and do it at home using this teeth whitening pen. —Nicol Natale, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024

Time’s running out to save on best-selling makeup, teeth whitening treatments, and skincare. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024

Platinum Mouth Rinse $20 $15 AMAZON From dental brand Moon, this alcohol-free mouth rinse not only freshens your breath but also offers teeth whitening benefits thanks to a gentle blend of antioxidants and hydrogen peroxide. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2024

And unlike some whitening treatments, this one is gentle enough for daily use. —Rebecca Martinson, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English whitenen, from white white entry 1 + -nen -en entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

whiten

verb

whit·​en ˈhwīt-ᵊn 

ˈwīt-

whitened; whitening -ᵊn-iŋ 

-niŋ

: to make or become white or whiter

whitener

-nər

-ᵊn-ər

noun