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

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 What do dentists recommend for teeth whitening at home? Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 15 May 2024 However, booking a whitening appointment with your dentist may be the best option to maximize your results. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for whiten 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whiten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near whiten

Cite this Entry

“Whiten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiten. Accessed 2 Jun. 2024.

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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