adj

white

WYT

adj

Reflecting all wavelengths of visible light equally; having the colour of snow or milk.

"She painted the fence white to match the house."

"Clouds drifted across a pale white sky."

Pale, as from shock, fear, or illness.

"He went white when he heard the news."

"Her face turned white at the sight of blood."

noun

A member of a light-skinned population, especially one of European descent.

"The census asks people to identify as white, Black, Asian, or another category."

verb

To make something white; to whiten or bleach.

"The walls had been whited over with fresh paint."

How to Use White

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe colour of snow, milk, or a blank page — reflecting light rather than absorbing it.

Common mistake

As a noun for race, capitalisation and usage conventions vary by style guide — check house style before publishing.

Common pairings

white as snow turn white white noise white wine

Word Forms

whiter comparative, more white comparative, whited past tense, Whites plural, whites singular, whitest superlative, most white superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

She painted the fence _____ to match the house.

Etymology

From Old English hwīt, going all the way back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "bright, shining" — the same root that gives related words for light and gleaming across many European languages.

Rhymes for white

rite bite lite kite cite mite site Vite write trite smite quite

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