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 of whiten

• bleach
• fade
• brighten

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

One of the presoak methods is more effective in whitening dingy socks. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026

According to Hill, good old-fashioned sunlight naturally kills bacteria, refreshes items, and whitens fabrics. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026

Considering our snow cover will be washed away after Friday's rain, Tuesday's storm will be our last chance to whiten the ground before Christmas. —Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

That’s why this year’s event is the perfect time to stock up on some of your beauty favorites—even the small things like makeup wipes and teeth whitening strips. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for whiten

• brighten
• chitin
• frighten
• heighten
• lighten
• phaeton
• tighten
• titan
• triton
• enlighten
• exciton
• periphyton

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