whisper

1 of 2

verb

whis·​per ˈ(h)wi-spər 

whispered; whispering ˈ(h)wi-sp(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to speak softly with little or no vibration of the vocal cords especially to avoid being overheard

2

: to make a sibilant sound that resembles whispering

transitive verb

1

: to address in a whisper

2

: to utter or communicate in or as if in a whisper

whisper

2 of 2

noun

1

: something communicated by or as if by whispering

especially : rumor

whispers of scandal

2

a

: an act or instance of whispering

especially : speech without vibration of the vocal cords

b

: a sibilant sound that resembles whispered speech

3

: hint, trace

Synonyms

Verb

• bruit (about)
• circulate
• noise (about or abroad)
• rumor

Noun

• canard
• story
• tale

Examples of whisper in a Sentence

Verb

He whispered in my ear.

She leaned over and whispered to the girl next to her.

I couldn't hear what they were saying because they were whispering.

She leaned over and whispered something to the girl next to her.

“I'll be right back,” she whispered.

A soft breeze whispered through the trees.

Noun

She spoke in a whisper.

the whisper of the wind

I've heard whispers that the company might go out of business.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

On Monday, whispers that Swift was at Free State Brewing Co. made its way through the grapevine. —Jamie Knodel, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2023

By the way the cocktails all seem to whisper, Go ahead, nobody’s counting? —Melissa Clark, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023

By 2016, players began whispering about a man known as the Maestro. —Kevin Sieff, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023

Gómez waits patiently as the girl whispers to her brother to get another dollar from their mom and dad. —Camryn Brewer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023

Read the full Aries Daily Horoscope Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Your heart�s intuition may whisper a wake-up call in your ear. —USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023

Most recently, the final scene of the series finale trended on TikTok with almost 3 million views when fans discovered that Khadijah whispered an additional line after her actual line. —Randi Richardson, NBC News, 21 Aug. 2023

It is whispered by those in and around BYU that its collective generally won’t put their deals in writing. —Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2023

McCarthy-Miller was on the line, whispering from the corner of a studio. —Matthew Jacobs, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2023

Noun

As London teeters between its second summer and the first signs of autumn (cooler mornings, knee-high boot sightings, whispers of cuffing season…) the fashion world is taking to the streets for London Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2024 season. —Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 18 Sep. 2023

The debate over the government’s role in the crisis is interrupted by whispers that the flour is finished. —Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep. 2023

Consider this fragrance a second skin of sorts, a whisper of something people can tell is there but can’t quite identify. —Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 14 Aug. 2023

Christon has heard the whispers about being a breakaway threat, but not a yards-in-the-trenches guy. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023

Joe, in almost a whisper (as if the fish might hear him), pointed off to the left side. —Matthew Monagan, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2023

All around, cultural distortions amplify in whispers and roars. —Jason Parham, WIRED, 21 July 2023

In one, a man in a Speedo starts frequenting the local pool, prompting whispers among suburban wives and their husbands, whose reactions are vastly different. —Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023

Most troubling is that a person who was not necessarily looking for extreme content could end up watching it because the algorithm noticed a whisper of something in their previous choices. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English hwisperian; akin to Old High German hwispalōn to whisper, Old Norse hvīsla — more at whistle

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing whisper

• stage whisper

• stage whisper

Kids Definition

whisper

1 of 2 verb

whis·​per ˈhwis-pər 

ˈwis-

whispered; whispering -p(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to speak very softly or under the breath

2

: to tell or utter by whispering

whisper a secret

3

: to make a series of little noises

whispering leaves

whisperer

-pər-ər

noun

whisper

2 of 2 noun

1

: something said by or as if by whispering

especially : rumor entry 1

whispers of scandal

2

: an act or instance of whispering

3

: a barely noticeable amount : hint

showed only a whisper of concern