whisper
Americanverb (used without object)
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whispers,
present (3rd person singular)
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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.
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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)
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whispers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
whispered,
past participle, past
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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
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a low soft voice
to speak in a whisper
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something uttered in such a voice
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a low soft rustling sound
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a trace or suspicion
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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
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has been whisperingperfect progressive
Past
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whisperedsimple
-
had whisperedperfect
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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:
"But opportunities don't scream: they whisper to those already working in silence."
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
It’s much more fun to buy a grotesquely overpriced polyester jersey and whisper about the what-ifs and what-could-bes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Watching Graham break into tears and whisper, “You really scared me,” is one of the most vulnerable moments I’ve witnessed in the last six months.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
This is where the dream ends for so many of my parents’ generation, who once came westward on the whisper of hope.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
‘Because we’ve been betrayed,’ she said in a whisper.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
From whispers of an Anthropic stake sale to strange options moves, traders sensed trouble and swung into action.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Club captain McGregor is another who impressed in the league opener, but there's also been whispers that he might be on the way out.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The scrutiny would have been too fierce, he feared, the whispers of nepotism too loud.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
This portion of the curriculum, naturally, came with plenty of giggles and whispers.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
“It’s all right,” Helen whispers, noting my panic and confusing it for mere lateness.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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
“Is he serious?” the new in-laws whispered to one another.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
A place whispered about online as though it sits just beyond the edges of our known world.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Still, Hetch Hetchy has long been whispered among Yosemite regulars as a place to find a little quiet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Keep it together,” I whispered under my breath.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
But Espinosa said attendees spent more time whispering about her outfit than talking about her presentation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 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
“He’s whispering to me, ‘Mom, this is your path.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Moved by the spectacle, Albarn asks the band to repeat the song's final chorus, whispering the lyrics like an incantation.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
Ella’s stomach squeezed as people passed her whispering.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
