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
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025
Those with damaged or bleached hair should consider shampoos with protein or bond-repair technology to help strengthen and restore strands.
—Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 7 Mar. 2025
Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2025
For an even deeper clean: Follow the instructions above, then grab a container and fill it with nine parts water and one part bleach.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleach
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Verb
The appeal makes sense: The color is easygoing and relaxing, and slipcovers can easily be bleached if (really, when) stains occur.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025
Those with damaged or bleached hair should consider shampoos with protein or bond-repair technology to help strengthen and restore strands.
—Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
Here are several methods to eliminate garbage can odors:
Disinfect with bleach.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2025
For an even deeper clean: Follow the instructions above, then grab a container and fill it with nine parts water and one part bleach.
—Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 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 23 Mar. 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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