whiten: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-to-MidNeutral, leaning slightly formal.
Quick answer
What does “whiten” mean?
to make or become white or lighter in colour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to make or become white or lighter in colour.
To cause something to lose its original colour and turn pale or white; also, to make something morally purer or more acceptable (less common, metaphorical).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard national patterns.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in written or descriptive contexts than in casual speech in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “whiten” in a Sentence
(S) V O: She whitened the old sheets.(S) V (intransitive): The old paper had whitened with age.V n with n: He whitened the wood with lime wash.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whiten” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She used a special powder to whiten the vintage linen.
- His face whitened visibly when he heard the news.
- We need to whiten the cricket trousers before the match.
American English
- This toothpaste claims to whiten your teeth in two weeks.
- The old fence had whitened over the years in the desert sun.
- She whitened the shirt with a strong bleach.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjective form 'whiten'; use 'whitening' as a modifier, e.g., 'whitening toothpaste')
American English
- N/A (No standard adjective form 'whiten'; use 'whitening' as a modifier, e.g., 'a whitening agent')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like dentistry ('teeth-whitening products') or laundry/detergent marketing.
Academic
Used in descriptive writing in history, art, or sciences (e.g., 'The skeleton had whitened in the sun').
Everyday
Most common in contexts of cleaning, laundry, and personal care (e.g., whitening toothpaste).
Technical
Used in dentistry, textile manufacturing, and paint/coating industries.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whiten”
- Using 'whiten' for instantaneous change (it suggests a process).
- Confusing with 'whitewash' (which can be literal paint or metaphorical cover-up).
- Incorrect: 'I will whiten the wall' (if you mean painting it) is less idiomatic than 'I will paint the wall white'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not among the most frequent verbs. It's more common in specific contexts like dental care, laundry, and descriptive writing than in general daily conversation.
'Whiten' is the general term for becoming/making white. 'Bleach' specifically implies using a chemical agent. 'Whitewash' means to paint with a white mixture (like lime) or, metaphorically, to gloss over faults.
It can be used descriptively (e.g., 'His knuckles whitened as he gripped the rail'), but using it to describe skin-lightening treatments can be sensitive and is often avoided in favour of more specific terms.
The process or result is 'whitening' (e.g., teeth whitening). There is no common agent noun like 'whitener'; 'bleach' or 'whitening agent' is used instead.
to make or become white or lighter in colour.
Whiten is usually neutral, leaning slightly formal. in register.
Whiten: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwaɪ.tən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwaɪ.t̬ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(no common idioms with 'whiten' as the key word)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'WHITE' + 'EN' (to make). Just like 'widen' means to make wide, 'whiten' means to make white.
Conceptual Metaphor
PURITY IS WHITENESS / AGE OR FEAR IS A BLEACHING AGENT.
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is the verb 'whiten' used most appropriately?