English Meaning & Definitions
Of the color of fresh snow or milk, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black.
- “The bride wore a beautiful white dress.”
- “The walls were painted a clean white.”
Belonging to or denoting a human group having light-colored skin, especially one of European descent.
- “The census categorizes people as white, black, or other.”
- “She is a white American of Irish descent.”
Pale or pallid, as from fear, illness, or shock.
- “His face went white with fear.”
- “She looked a bit white after the long journey.”
Morally pure; innocent (often used in phrases like 'white lie').
- “A white lie is told to avoid hurting someone's feelings.”
- “She was known for her white character.”
The color of fresh snow or milk; the opposite of black.
- “She decorated her room entirely in white.”
- “The artist used a lot of white in his landscape painting.”
A person belonging to a human group having light-colored skin, especially one of European descent.
- “The neighborhood is home to many whites and Hispanics.”
- “He is a white who grew up in a diverse community.”
The albumen of an egg, which is white when cooked.
- “Separate the yolk from the white.”
- “Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.”
The white part of the eyeball (sclera).
- “The whites of his eyes were bloodshot.”
White clothing, especially worn for a particular purpose or sport.
- “The tennis players were all dressed in whites.”
- “She always wears whites to work in the hospital.”
To make (something) white or whiter.
- “The sun had whitened her hair.”
- “She used bleach to white the laundry.”
To become white or whiter.
- “His hair began to white with age.”
- “The landscape whitened overnight with snow.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “white”.
From Old English _hwīt_ (adjective, noun) "white, bright, shining, clear," also "pure, innocent" (of the soul); from Proto-Germanic _*hwītaz_ (source also of Old Saxon _hwit_, Old Norse _hvitr_, Danish _hvid_, Swedish _vit_, Old Frisian _hwit_, Middle Dutch _wit_, Dutch _wit_, Old High German _hwiz_, German _weiß_, Gothic _hveits_ "white"), from PIE root _*kʷeyt-_ "to shine; white."
Think of 'white' as the color of 'light' – both describe brightness and the absence of darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions About “white”
1. What is the meaning of “white” in English?
In English, white (adjective) is defined as: “Of the color of fresh snow or milk, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black.”.
2. How do you use “white” in a sentence?
“The bride wore a beautiful white dress.”
3. What are English synonyms of “white”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “white”?
From Old English _hwīt_ (adjective, noun) "white, bright, shining, clear," also "pure, innocent" (of the soul); from Proto-Germanic _*hwītaz_ (source also of Old Saxon _hwit_, Old Norse _hvitr_, Danish _hvid_, Swedish _vit_, Old Frisian _hwit_, Middle Dutch _wit_, Dutch _wit_, Old High German _hwiz_, German _weiß_, Gothic _hveits_ "white"), from PIE root _*kʷeyt-_ "to shine; white."
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.