whiten

whit·en

verb \ˈhwī-t^ən, ˈwī-\

whit·enedwhit·en·ing \ˈhwīt-niŋ, ˈwīt-, -^ən-iŋ\

Definition of WHITEN

transitive verb

: to make white or whiter <snow whitened the hills>

intransitive verb

: to become white or whiter

Examples of WHITEN

1. His hair whitened as he aged.
2. Bleach will whiten the linens.
3. The new toothpaste whitens teeth.

First Known Use of WHITEN

14th century

Related to WHITEN

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

darken, deepen, embrown

Related Words

brighten, lighten; dim, mat (also matte or matt); etiolate; whitewash; frost, silver

Near Antonyms

blacken; blotch, checker, dapple, daub, discolor, fleck, marble, mottle, pattern, polychrome, shade, speck, speckle, splotch, spot, streak, striate, stripe, tarnish, variegate; color, dye, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint; burnish, polish, shine

Rhymes with WHITEN

brighten, Brighton, chitin, chiton, frighten, heighten, lighten, tighten, titan, triton