whisper
Americanverb (used without object)
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whispers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
whispered,
past participle, past
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whispering
present participle
-
to speak with soft, hushed sounds, using the breath, lips, etc., but with no vibration of the vocal cords.
-
Phonetics. to produce utterance substituting breath for phonation.
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to talk softly and privately (often implying gossip, slander, plotting, or the like).
The king knew that the courtiers were whispering.
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(of trees, water, breezes, etc.) to make a soft, rustling sound like that of whispering.
verb (used with object)
-
whispers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
whispered,
past participle, past
-
whispering
present participle
-
to utter with soft, low sounds, using the breath, lips, etc..
He whispered endearments to her.
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Phonetics. to utter (speech sounds) substituting breath for phonation.
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to say or tell in a whisper; tell privately.
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to speak to or tell (a person) in a whisper or privately.
noun
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whispers
plural
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the mode of utterance, or the voice, of a person who whispers.
to speak in a whisper.
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a word or remark uttered by whispering.
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a rumor or insinuation.
Whispers circulated about the affair.
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a soft, rustling sound like a whisper.
the whisper of leaves in the wind.
verb
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to speak or utter (something) in a soft hushed tone, esp without vibration of the vocal cords
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(intr) to speak secretly or furtively, as in promoting intrigue, gossip, etc
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(intr) (of leaves, trees, etc) to make a low soft rustling sound
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(tr) to utter or suggest secretly or privately
to whisper treason
noun
-
a low soft voice
to speak in a whisper
-
something uttered in such a voice
-
a low soft rustling sound
-
a trace or suspicion
-
informal a rumour or secret
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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whispersimple
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whisperssimple
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have whisperedperfect
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has whisperedperfect
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am whisperingprogressive
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are whisperingprogressive
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is whisperingprogressive
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have been whisperingperfect progressive
-
has been whisperingperfect progressive
Past
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whisperedsimple
-
had whisperedperfect
-
was whisperingprogressive
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were whisperingprogressive
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had been whisperingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of whisper
First recorded before 950; Middle English whisperen (verb), Old English hwisprian; akin to German wispern, Old Norse hviskra, hvīsla “to whistle”; cf. whine
Explanation
Psst! When you speak very quietly, so that hardly anyone can hear, you're whispering, or speaking in a whisper. A whisper is the opposite of a shout. When teachers talk about using your outside voice (when you're outside) and your inside voice (for speaking normally), the whisper is even quieter than the inside voice. This word can apply to other sounds too: you could say the wind is whispering. Whispers really do sound a lot like "Psst psst psst" to anyone who can't hear the exact words. You're likely to hear a lot of whispering in the library.
Vocabulary lists containing whisper
"Charlotte's Web": Chapter One
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Vocabulary from poems about communication
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Let’s not forget that the #MeToo movement took off because of whisper networks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
The Amalfi also provides an instrument display for the passenger, configured to display vehicle data and telemetry, so lovers can whisper sweet nothings about instantaneous g-loading.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
Everyone knew their fellow New Yorkers needed a bit of a break, and for a short period, the usual din of the city calmed to a whisper.
From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2026
The $6 billion figure was "near the lower end of the whisper range," Innes wrote in a Substack column.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
Time and again she had her arm around me, helping me on, and every so often she would whisper words of encouragement.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
“I just want to see what kind of car he’s getting into,” Ms. Townsend whispers into the microphone as she trails the same support aide in another video from last month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
In shouts and whispers alike, she made sure people felt valued.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Her energy rises and falls alongside the mysterious mist, which has engulfed the city and brought whispers of a mysterious ancient entity lurking in its haze.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Lisa-Kaindé is the bleeding heart who whispers divinity into her lyrics, and Naomi grounds them with the beating pulse of her percussion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
“Make it quick, please, and stay in the cul-de-sac,” Lou Ann whispers.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
My astute stepmother leaned over and whispered to me, “Oh, dear.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
The sweetness, the warmth, the intimacy in a seemingly tossed-off phrase—her songs could be 2½-minute novels, they could be love notes left on a kitchen table, they could be secrets whispered into your ear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Imagine a little birdie from the future landed on my shoulder and whispered, with 98% probability, exactly what the stock market and bond market are going to do.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
The topic is whispered in some and debated in others.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
‘Please come for me soon,’ he whispered over and over in the darkness.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
"We support Hamilton and Leclerc - we support Ferrari," says Daniele emphatically, although youngest son Demis, while still loyal to the Scuderia, is an Antonelli fan, whispering the Mercedes driver is "really good".
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
“I want to tell you what they’re whispering about Michiganders out in Washington, because I’ve heard it myself,” Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd at the Detroit rally.
From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026
I can still see my own mother covering her eyes as she lit our family’s Shabbos candles, whispering private prayers for her children.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
“He’s whispering to me, ‘Mom, this is your path.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Apparently, library rules about whispering don’t apply here because Emma shouts my name the moment I walk inside.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
