whiten
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become white.
was whitening
-
past progressiveof whiten.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The man's hair was whitening, the lines of ordeal were carved in his face, and he was gaunt beneath his suntan.
From Time Magazine Archive
He was leaning forward and already the salt was whitening his body.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
The moon had long since gone down, and the dawn was whitening over the eastern horizon.
From Moran of the Lady Letty by Frank Norris
Black got its meaning from his face, even his lips were black, but his hair was whitening.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, North Carolina Narratives, Part 1 by Various
She noticed that the kind, vacuous face was beginning to look more than middle-aged, and that the scanty hair above it was whitening rapidly.
From The Squirrel-Cage by John Alanzo Williams
