white

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Having the color of fresh snow or milk, the lightest color of all.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun or after be: a white shirt; the walls are white.

   Patterns

   • white with something
   • as white as something

   She wore a plain white dress to the ceremony.

   The mountains were white with fresh snow.

   He painted the kitchen walls white.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Looking very pale, usually because of fear, illness or shock.

   Grammar: Often used after be or go: she went white.

   Patterns

   • white with fear
   • go white

   He went white when he saw the bill.

   Her face was white with fear.

   The nurse noticed that the patient looked white and tired.

3. 3adjectivenot comparable

   Describing a person with light-colored skin, or relating to people of European origin.

   Grammar: Usually written with a lowercase w in this sense in many style guides, though practice varies.

   Patterns

   • a white person
   • white communities

   The survey compared outcomes for white and Black students.

   She grew up in a mostly white neighborhood.

   The population is about sixty percent white.

4. 4adjectivebefore a noun

   Describing a drink or food that is pale in color, such as wine made from light grapes or coffee with milk.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: white wine, white bread.

   Patterns

   • white wine
   • white coffee

   I'll have a glass of white wine, please.

   He prefers white bread to brown.

   Would you like your coffee white or black?

5. 5nouncountable or uncountable

   The color of snow or milk, or the pale part of something such as an egg or an eye.

   Grammar: Uncountable as a color: dressed in white; countable for parts: two egg whites.

   Patterns

   • dressed in white
   • the white of an egg

   The bride was dressed in white.

   Beat the egg whites until they form peaks.

   The whites of his eyes were red from lack of sleep.

Word forms

Common combinations

white lie

She told a white lie to avoid hurting his feelings.

white noise

A fan produces white noise that helps me sleep.

white flag

The troops raised a white flag to surrender.

white collar

He moved from factory work to a white-collar job.

whiter than white

The advert promised laundry that came out whiter than white.

Synonyms and how they differ

pale

Pale means lacking strong color and is used for skin or light shades, whereas white is the full absence of color.

snowy

Snowy is a poetic way to say white, and it also hints at snow or cold.

ivory

Ivory is a warm, slightly yellowish white, so it is narrower than white.

pallid

Pallid describes an unhealthy pale face, while white can be a plain neutral color.

Opposites

Word family

whiten verb

to make or become white

whiteness noun

the quality of being white

whitish adjective

somewhat white

whitewash noun

a white paint mixture; also a cover-up

whitener noun

a product that makes things whiter

Commonly confused: white or wight?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “white”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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