whiten

American  

[hwahyt-n, wahyt-n] / ˈʰwaɪt n, ˈwaɪt n /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become white.

   Antonyms:

   blacken

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whiten British  

/ ˈwaɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become white or whiter; bleach

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Related Words

Whiten, blanch, bleach mean to make or become white. To whiten implies giving a white color or appearance by putting a substance of some kind on the outside: to whiten shoes. To blanch implies taking away natural or original color throughout: to blanch celery by growing it in the dark. To bleach implies making white by placing in (sun) light or by using chemicals: to bleach linen, hair.

Other Word Forms

• unwhitened adjective
• whitening noun

Etymology

Origin of whiten

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English whitenen; white, -en ¹

Example Sentences

The trees through the window were spindly and bare, and a thin layer of snow whitened the landscape as far as my eye could see.

From Literature

Paper mills rely on it to whiten wood pulp.

From Salon

For example, you can whiten teeth with a single tap.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the import expo, it showcased a new whitening toothpaste for the Chinese market, developed at Crest’s Beijing research institute.

From The Wall Street Journal

With shelves full of whitening, charcoal, and enamel-boosting pastes, it's easy to assume the pricier options will give you a healthier smile.

From BBC

Related Words

• bleach