whiten

[hwahyt-n, wahyt-n]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become white.

   Antonyms: blacken

whiten

/ ˈwaɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become white or whiter; bleach

Other Word Forms

• whitening noun
• unwhitened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whiten¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

In food, calcium phosphate is used as a whitening agent.

From Los Angeles Times

Directors and producers coached her to use whitening creams.

From Los Angeles Times

If you're undertaking a home whitening process, sparkling water might discolor your teeth.

From Salon

Many healers of the day also recommended treating eye infections with human milk, which was known as "whitened blood".

From Salon

Wash the navy beans and run hot water through them until they are slightly whitened.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• bleach