whisper

1 of 2

verb

whis·​per ˈ(h)wi-spər How to pronounce whisper (audio)
whispered; whispering ˈ(h)wi-sp(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce whisper (audio)

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

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Some visitors claim to have heard crying and whispering from behind closed doors, and there have even been sightings of ghostly figures lurking in the corners. Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024 In an altered version of one of the film's promotional posters, Ariana Grande's Glinda whispers in the ear of Elphaba, aka Erivo, whose face is concealed by her witchy hat. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
Visitors often hear strange noises, like whispers or footsteps, especially at night. Paula Conway, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 But since its passage in 2016, there have been whispers around New York City that something isn’t working. Suzanne Herman, refinery29.com, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for whisper 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whisper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of whisper was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near whisper

Cite this Entry

“Whisper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whisper. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

whisper

1 of 2 verb
whis·​per ˈhwis-pər How to pronounce whisper (audio)
ˈwis-
whispered; whispering -p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce whisper (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on whisper

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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