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

Brilliance Deep Stain Remover is an everyday toothpaste that delivers on whitening. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025

Another endocrine disruptor is titanium dioxide, a chemical that whitens baked goods, candy, and some dairy products like creamers. —Matt Fuchs, Time, 27 Mar. 2025

In This Story: Do any teeth whitening kits actually work? Are the best teeth whitening kits safe to use? —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2025

Getting a professional whitening treatment in a dentist's office is the ultimate teeth whitening alternative. —Cristina Mutchler, Health, 27 Mar. 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