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
In the background, two girls could be seen whispering in view of the camera. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 The necessity, complexity, and cost implications of EHR adoption effectively gave health system CIOs a seat at their organizations’ decision-making table, with Epic by their side, whispering in their ears. Seth Joseph, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 From the deep bass that rumbles beneath your feet to the delicate nuances that whisper sweet melodies in your ear, the Kapsule delivers an auditory experience that demands attention and ignites movement. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 15 Feb. 2024 More recent generations of the 3 Series, however, struggled to stand out amongst a slew of new competitors, with incremental updates that seemed to whisper instead of shout. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024 All those whispers about the demise of the women’s national team, Naomi Girma says the players never hear them. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 On an instrumental break, Dickie whispers in Fausto’s ear while Tom applauds uproariously. Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024 For the uninitiated—for those not on the playgrounds or in the streets or privy to locker-room whispers about how big and bad the storm descending on Ann Arbor was—the photo was a scene of reassurance, appeasing those who feared that the Fab Five would disrupt the landscape of the game. Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024 This year’s mood was all about—whisper it—quiet luxury, which is still, believe it or not, yet to exit the chat. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2024
Noun
Her future fraught with whispers of her father’s political connection to Argentina’s brutal dictatorship, she’s tasked with circumventing harsh truths to remain faithful to her destiny in the narrative that follows her through her formative years. Holly Jones, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 Their clarity is legendary, illuminating nuances in acoustic instruments with dynamic range so wide both bombastic bass lines and ASMR whispers are revealed with meticulous finesse. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Editor’s picks In his life, this translated into whispers that turned into headlines, and informants infiltrating mosques and schools. Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 From solitary travelers finding solace to lovers entwined in intimate whispers, each vignette reflects facets of human existence. Billboard China, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 Maybe Mandy spent the night awake, rigid, waiting to see if Roy would get up as if to use the bathroom, say her name in a loud whisper, and then, on receiving no response, creep trembling down the stairs toward the fold-out bed. Fiona McFarlane, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 All of us hold in our hearts, the gentle whisper of true love. Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Even before Beyoncé surprise-announced her new album, Act II, during the Super Bowl, there were whispers among the Beyhive that the record would have a country slant. Lindy Segal, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2024 The guilt seems to echo the societal whisper that rest is a luxury, not a necessity. Barbara Rhoden, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024

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 28 Mar. 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

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