whiten

verb

whit·​en ˈ(h)wī-tᵊn How to pronounce whiten (audio)
whitened; whitening ˈ(h)wīt-niŋ How to pronounce whiten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of whitennext

transitive verb

: to make white or whiter
snow whitened the hills

intransitive verb

: to become white or whiter

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The toothpaste and accelerator systems whiten and improve overall oral wellness simply by brushing for two minutes twice a day. Tory Johnson, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026 Dioxins are a chemical by-product of the bleaching process to whiten cotton, and they are associated with cancer and endocrine disruption. Jenni Shearston, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026 The files include jokey exchanges and emails planning visits to Epstein properties, teeth-whitening appointments and shopping trips. Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Mondelez has Forever Oreos, and Colgate has a product that can whiten teeth in a week. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiten

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of whiten was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiten. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

whiten

verb
whit·​en ˈhwīt-ᵊn How to pronounce whiten (audio)
ˈwīt-
whitened; whitening -ᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce whiten (audio)
-niŋ
: to make or become white or whiter
whitener
-nər
-ᵊn-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on whiten

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