white
white
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown:
white: /waɪt/
/waɪ/ - "whi" (as in "why")
/t/ - "te" (as in "t" in "cat")
white: /waɪt/
/waɪ/ - "whi" (as in "why")
/t/ - "te" (as in "t" in "cat")
Word Form Variations
Adjective: white (no variations for singular/plural, as it's an adjective)
Noun: white (singular), whites (plural)
Verb: white (base form), whites (3rd person singular present), whiting (present participle), whited (past tense, past participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Of the color of fresh snow or milk, due to the reflection of all wavelengths of visible light; the lightest color.
Synonyms: pale, alabaster, milky, snowy, blanched
Antonyms: black, dark, colored
Definition 2: Relating to or belonging to a human group characterized by light skin pigmentation.
Synonyms: Caucasian, light-skinned
Antonyms: non-white, person of color (context dependent)
Definition 3: Morally pure or innocent; free from evil or harm.
Synonyms: pure, virtuous, unblemished, guiltless, innocent
Antonyms: black, evil, corrupt, guilty
Definition 4: (Of coffee or tea) Served with milk or cream.
Synonyms: creamy, milky
Antonyms: black (referring to coffee/tea without milk)
Noun
Definition 1: The color of fresh snow or milk; the lightest color.
Synonyms: pallor, whiteness, ivory (specific shade)
Antonyms: black, darkness
Definition 2: The part of an egg, consisting primarily of albumin, that surrounds the yolk and turns opaque when cooked.
Synonyms: albumen
Antonyms: yolk
Definition 3: A person belonging to a human group characterized by light skin pigmentation.
Synonyms: Caucasian
Antonyms: person of color, non-white
Verb
Definition 1: To make something white or whiter.
Synonyms: whiten, bleach, blanch, lighten
Antonyms: blacken, darken, color
Definition 2: To apply a white substance to a surface.
Synonyms: whitewash, coat, paint (with white)
Antonyms: n/a (depends on the context of the action)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off – then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me. There now is your insular city of the Manhattoes, belted round by wharves as Manhattan island by reefs of coral rock. All round the island are the white walls of the city..." (Herman Melville, Moby Dick, 1851)
"The old man was an extremely thin man with a white beard and a nose that was unusually large for his face. He wore glasses that magnified his eyes, making them seem round and owl-like." (Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude, 1967)
Newspapers:
"Homeowners in the region saw a strong appreciation in their property values, particularly in neighborhoods with a high demand for white picket fences." (The Wall Street Journal, March 2024)
"The city council voted to replace the white lines on the newly paved roads, ensuring clearer visibility for drivers." (The New York Times, February 2025)
Online Publications:
"Many fashion designers are embracing the versatility of white in their spring collections, from crisp shirts to flowing dresses." (Vogue.com, April 2025)
"Researchers found that a diet rich in whole grains and lean proteins, rather than processed white bread, contributed to better long-term health outcomes." (Healthline.com, January 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas / Just like the ones I used to know" (Bing Crosby, "White Christmas," 1942)
Film: The iconic scene in Casablanca features Humphrey Bogart's character, Rick Blaine, wearing a white dinner jacket. (Casablanca, 1942)
Television: "The White House is a big house, with many rooms." (From an educational children's show, "Sesame Street," aired frequently)
Video Games: In "Minecraft," players often collect white wool from sheep to craft beds and other items. (Mojang Studios, first released 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"Can I get a white coffee, please? Just a little milk." (Heard in a coffee shop, May 2025)
"The forecast is calling for whiteout conditions on the highway later this afternoon, so be careful if you're driving." (Common weather report, December 2024)
"I need to buy some white paint to touch up the trim in the living room." (Everyday conversation, June 2025)
"The bride looked stunning in her white dress." (Common observation at weddings, ongoing)
10 Famous Quotes Using White
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know." (Irving Berlin)
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. In the hope that you will not feel that I am abandoning my duty in the face of this great task, I am addressing you this morning only with the plea that we face our common difficulties as men and women who have no fear, and who, with the blessing of God, will do our part to banish fear." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, though the specific quote "white" is often associated with the hope for peace.) (Attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt)
"I believe that we are on the eve of a white Christmas." (Winston Churchill)
"Black and white are the colors of photography. To me, they symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair to which mankind is forever subjected." (Robert Frank)
"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books: else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flash things." (Francis Bacon, though the specific quote using "white" is less common from him, but often used in discussions of simplicity or purity.) (Attributed to Francis Bacon)
"It's a white world out there." (Jack London, The Call of the Wild)
"You don't start with a white piece of paper to be a good writer. You start with a blank mind." (William Faulkner)
"My father was a white man, and my mother was a black woman. And I grew up in a very segregated society." (Nelson Mandela)
"All we want is a just and lasting peace. Not a truce for six months or a year, but a peace which will last at least a generation. And this is not possible unless we put an end to this vicious circle of hatred, violence, and war. We have seen what it means to be white in the face of death and destruction." (Golda Meir)
"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. The soul is painted with its own colors, white or black, good or evil." (Henry Ward Beecher)
Etymology
The word "white" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
In simple terms, "white" comes from the Proto-Germanic language, an ancestor of modern German, Dutch, and English. The word there was "hwītaz." Before that, it's believed to come from an even older language called Proto-Indo-European (which is a super ancient language that gave birth to many European and Indian languages), where it was something like "kweit-," meaning "to shine" or "to be white/bright."
So, the core idea behind the word has always been about brightness and light.
The first known use of "white" in English is in the Old English period (before 1150 AD). It appeared as "hwīt" (pronounced something like "hweet"). Its original meaning was pretty much what we understand today: "of the color of milk or snow," "bright," or "radiant."
It's one of the most basic color terms in languages, along with "black," which makes sense since ancient cultures often viewed the world in terms of light and darkness. So, from way back in time, "white" has been used to describe things that are the lightest possible color, reflecting all visible light.
Phrases + Idioms Containing White
White as a ghost: Extremely pale, usually from fear or shock.
White lie: A harmless or trivial lie, told to avoid hurting someone's feelings or to maintain social harmony.
White-collar: Relating to professional, managerial, or administrative work, often performed in an office.
White elephant: A possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of.
White wash: To conceal or cover up mistakes or wrongdoing; also, to paint a surface white.
White night: A sleepless night, often due to worry or excitement.
White goods: Large household electrical appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, etc.
White hot: Extremely intense or passionate; also, heated to a point of incandescence.
White Christmas: A Christmas with snow on the ground.
White flag: A signal of surrender or a request for a truce.
To show the white feather: To act in a cowardly way.
Black and white: Clear and unambiguous; also, in terms of good and evil.
The great white hope: A person expected to achieve great things, especially in sports, to restore pride to a group.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of white from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
