whisper

verb whis·per \ ˈhwi-spər , ˈwi- \

Definition of whisper

whispered; whispering play \ˈhwi-sp(ə-)riŋ, ˈwi-\

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

See whisper defined for English-language learners

See whisper defined for kids

Examples of whisper in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of whisper from the Web

One of us, the wax figures whispered from around the corner.

— luke o'neil, Esquire, "I Confronted Death in a Wax Museum," 8 Aug. 2017
These pint-sized spies (surely inspired by Sherlock Holmes’s Baker Street Irregulars) whispered back reports from the frosty north . . . . .

— joanna robinson, HWD, "One Game of Thrones Scene Explains Why Daenerys Is Losing the War," 6 Aug. 2017
The scandals have brought to light an issue that's been whispered about in boardrooms and among victims for decades.

— sarah mcbride, Bloomberg.com, "Silicon Valley’s Sexual Harassment Issues Have a Long History," 27 July 2017
Unfortunately for left-leaning Americans, the Democratic party’s latest solution is a bland policy agenda that amounts to weakly whispered socialism rather than a forceful rejoinder to the populist wave that propelled Donald Trump into office.

— alexandra desanctis, National Review, "A ‘Better Deal’ or Just More of the Same from Democrats?," 25 July 2017
Once Mr Kalanick’s replacement is found, voices will whisper that the firm, like Macbeth himself, is in too deep to alter course.

— The Economist, "SchumpeterAn action plan for Uber’s next chief executive," 20 July 2017
AT 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, Chattanooga’s streets merely whisper.

— travis m. andrews, Southern Living, "On Elijah Wood, Community, and Why the Chattanooga Film Fest Could One Day Surpass Sundance," 11 July 2017
A staff member slipped in and whispered in Langenberg's ear: Secretary Darrell Bazzell wanted to see her.

— rick romell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "With deer hunting woven into our cultural and economic fabric, a threat to the herd could turn catastrophic," 6 July 2017
Come 1953, this legal prodigy was named McCarthy’s boy-wonder chief counsel, and the news photos told the tale: the sharp-faced, heavy-lidded 26-year-old with cherubic cheeks, whispering intimately into the ear of the bloated McCarthy.

— marie brenner, The Hive, "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn’s Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America," 4 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whisper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of whisper

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

whisper Synonyms

Synonyms

bruit (about), circulate, noise (about or out), rumor

Related Words

bandy (about), blab, dish, gossip, tattle; bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), report, reveal, spill, tell; hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest; blaze, broadcast, proclaim, promulgate, propagate, publicize, spread

whisper

noun

Definition of whisper

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

See whisper defined for English-language learners

Examples of whisper in a Sentence

She spoke in a whisper.
the whisper of the wind
I've heard whispers that the company might go out of business.

Recent Examples of whisper from the Web

In her videos, the 30-year-old Russian-American whispers positive affirmations, folds towels, brushes hair, or slowly turns the pages of a book, anything to trigger ASMR, or the autonomous sensory meridian response.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "This ASMR YouTube Star (Quietly) Reached a Major Milestone," 1 Aug. 2017
Play whisper down the lane with your ideas and let that give birth to an entirely new credo.

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Weekly Horoscopes August Week 1," 28 July 2017
That made him an anomaly for his era: a 2000s progressive who rooted his singing in the tenets of 1980s and 1990s rock, and someone who knew how to extract feeling both from careful whispers and gnarled yelps.

— jillian selzer, Cosmopolitan, "Fans, Music Critics Share Heart-Wrenching Tributes to Chester Bennington," 24 July 2017
Shreds of evidence and whispers of proof energize one side and appall the other.

— marc fisher, david nakamura, Alaska Dispatch News, "Is Donald Trump Jr.’s ‘I love it’ email a smoking gun or a distraction?," 12 July 2017
People laugh, talk, whisper and make noises that all feel equally as magnified.

— hannah boudreau, Howard County Times, "Local man with autism shows courage in joining team [Commentary]," 5 July 2017
Grandmothers sleep on massage chairs and grandchildren learn patience and whisper to each other in the rooms of salt.

— arabelle sicardi, Allure, "The Spa Isn't as Relaxing — or Safe — for Trans and Gender Nonconforming People," 19 June 2017
Bush says his voice wasn't made for a golf whisper.

— kaitlin menza, Esquire, "8 Things We Learned About Billy Bush from His New Interview," 22 May 2017
Normally, whispers on the ship of state are intended to damage rival factions, not to sink the captain and his entire vessel.

— vanityfair.com, "Is There Mutiny in the White House?," 10 May 2017

First Known Use of whisper

1595

whisper Synonyms

Synonyms

canard, story, tale

Related Words

dirt, gossip, scuttlebutt, talebearing, talk, tattle; dirty laundry, dirty linen; defamation, libel, slander; hearsay; fable, fabrication, fairy tale, falsehood, falsity, fib, lie, mendacity, prevarication, untruth, whopper

WHISPER Defined for English Language Learners

whisper

verb

Definition of whisper for English Language Learners

: to speak very softly or quietly
: to produce a quiet sound

whisper

noun

Definition of whisper for English Language Learners

: a very soft and quiet way of speaking
: a soft and quiet sound
: a very small amount of something

WHISPER Defined for Kids

whisper

verb whis·per \ ˈhwi-spər , ˈwi- \

Definition of whisper for Students

whispered; whispering

1 :to speak softly and quietly

2 :to tell by speaking softly and quietly

“I would miss you, Nick,” I whispered. “I would.”
—Patricia MacLachlan, Sarah, Plain and Tall

3 :to make a low rustling sound

The wind whispered in the trees.

whisper

noun

Definition of whisper for Students

1 :a soft quiet way of speaking that can be heard only by people who are near

2 :the act of speaking softly and quietly

3 :something said softly and quietly

4 :¹hint 2

a whisper of smoke

Learn More about whisper

See words that rhyme with whisper Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for whisper Spanish Central: Translation of whisper Nglish: Translation of whisper for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of whisper for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whisper

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whisper Synonyms

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whisper

Definition of whisper

Examples of whisper in a Sentence

Recent Examples of whisper from the Web

First Known Use of whisper

whisper Synonyms

Synonyms

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WHISPER Defined for English Language Learners

whisper

Definition of whisper for English Language Learners

whisper

Definition of whisper for English Language Learners

WHISPER Defined for Kids

whisper

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whisper

Definition of whisper for Students

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