whiten
verb
whit·en
ˈ(h)wī-tᵊn 
whitened; whitening
ˈ(h)wīt-niŋ
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make white or whiter
snow whitened the hills
: 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
The rest of their tooth-care regimen includes flossing daily, tongue scraping and using mouthwash as needed, along with the occasional use of whitening strips.
—
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
At that point, the knuckles started to whiten on Causeway Street.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Pairs that make the cut are cleaned from the sole upward, disinfected inside and, in some cases, whitened under UV light before being put back into circulation.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Use vinegar as a bleach-free alternative to whiten your whites.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
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.
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
At that point, the knuckles started to whiten on Causeway Street.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Pairs that make the cut are cleaned from the sole upward, disinfected inside and, in some cases, whitened under UV light before being put back into circulation.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Use vinegar as a bleach-free alternative to whiten your whites.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiten
Cite this Entry
“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiten. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
