What are the definitions of “white out”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Use correction fluid to cover a mistake in a written text.
Could you pass the Tippex? I need to WHITE this mistake OUT.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “white out”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb white out is to use correction fluid, such as Tippex or Wite-Out, to cover a mistake in a written text. This is often done to make the mistake invisible and allow the writer to correct it.
What are the different verb forms of “white out”?
| Root Verb | white out |
| Third Person Singular Present | whites out |
| Present Participle | whiting out |
| Simple Past | whited out |
| Past Participle | whited out |
Example
I need to white out this mistake before submitting my paper.
Example
She whites out any errors she finds in her notes.
Example
He is whiting out the incorrect information on the form.
Example
Yesterday, I whited out a typo in my essay.
Example
The mistake has been whited out and corrected.
What kind of phrasal verb is “white out”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“white out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She whited out the error on the document.
Example
He whited the mistake out on the form.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“white out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She whited out the error on the document.
Example
He whited the mistake out on the form.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “white out”?
Whiteout conditions
A weather condition in which visibility is severely reduced due to heavy snowfall or fog.
Example
The snowstorm caused whiteout conditions, making it impossible to see the road.
Good things to know
Does “white out” have an informal or formal tone?
White out is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and written communication when discussing the correction of mistakes in written texts.
