bleached; bleaching; bleaches
1
: to remove color or stains from
2
a
: to make whiter or lighter especially by physical or chemical removal of color
bleach clothing
the sun had bleached her hair
b
: to remove, make dull, or sanitize as if by removing color
bleaches colonialism of its genocidal legacy—
H. A. Giroux
H. A. Giroux1
: to grow white or lose color
2
of coral
: to expel symbiotic zooxanthellae exposing a white skeleton
1
: the act or process of bleaching
2
: a preparation used in bleaching
3
: the degree of whiteness obtained by bleaching
Examples of bleach in a Sentence
Verb
bones bleached white by the sun
She bleached her hair blonde.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
The dentist will apply a protective gel or a rubber shield to the gums, and then a bleaching agent will be applied.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
The actor, who is Black and gay, previously alleged that two men jeered at him before pouring bleach onto his body and tying a rope around his neck on Jan. 29, 2019.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleach
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Verb
Fabrics that should never be bleached include: leather, spandex, wool, and silk.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
The dentist will apply a protective gel or a rubber shield to the gums, and then a bleaching agent will be applied.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025
Noun
Chlorine Bleach Chlorine bleach, which is traditional liquid bleach and sometimes referred to as household bleach, works by using the active ingredient sodium hypochlorite.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
The actor, who is Black and gay, previously alleged that two men jeered at him before pouring bleach onto his body and tying a rope around his neck on Jan. 29, 2019.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleach
Cite this Entry
“Bleach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bleach. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bleach
1 of 2 verb1
: to remove color or stains from
2
: to make whiter or lighter
3
: to grow white : lose color
bleach
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or process of bleaching
2
: a chemical used in bleaching
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