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

• 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

This number one-selling electric toothbrush is equipped with four cleansing modes to whiten and brighten your teeth over time, plus eight replacement heads for convenience. —Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025

Right now the retailer is taking 35% off Crest 3D Whitestrips, a dentist-recommended, safe for enamel teeth-whitening pick. —Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025

From whitening toothpaste to bestselling blow dryers, these deals are worth a spot in your cart. —Caitlyn Martyn 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, 7 Oct. 2025

This isn’t your average at-home teeth whitening kit. —Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 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