whisper
Americanverb (used without object)
-
whispers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
whispered,
past participle, past
-
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.
-
to talk softly and privately (often implying gossip, slander, plotting, or the like).
The king knew that the courtiers were whispering.
-
(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.
-
Phonetics. to utter (speech sounds) substituting breath for phonation.
-
to say or tell in a whisper; tell privately.
-
to speak to or tell (a person) in a whisper or privately.
noun
-
whispers
plural
-
the mode of utterance, or the voice, of a person who whispers.
to speak in a whisper.
-
a word or remark uttered by whispering.
-
a rumor or insinuation.
Whispers circulated about the affair.
-
a soft, rustling sound like a whisper.
the whisper of leaves in the wind.
verb
-
to speak or utter (something) in a soft hushed tone, esp without vibration of the vocal cords
-
(intr) to speak secretly or furtively, as in promoting intrigue, gossip, etc
-
(intr) (of leaves, trees, etc) to make a low soft rustling sound
-
(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
-
whispersimple
-
whisperssimple
-
have whisperedperfect
-
has whisperedperfect
-
am whisperingprogressive
-
are whisperingprogressive
-
is whisperingprogressive
-
have been whisperingperfect progressive
-
has been whisperingperfect progressive
Past
-
whisperedsimple
-
had whisperedperfect
-
was whisperingprogressive
-
were whisperingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary from poems about communication
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Earlier Wild Pink LPs had folkier arrangements that leaned more on acoustic guitar, and Mr. Ross often sang in a whisper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Some whisper Streeting may replace her, although he denied to me he'd been offered the job by Burnham.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 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
At the time, she and Shell suspected Cipriani was behind an online whisper campaign to spread rumors about Shell just as he was trying to mount a comeback at Paramount.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
It came out somewhere between a whisper and a wad of phlegm.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
In shouts and whispers alike, she made sure people felt valued.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Questions still linger over where the all-British bout would take place, with Eddie Hearn saying Joshua's contract stipulates the UK, but industry whispers suggesting a venue in America.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Shabbos whispers a quiet but profoundly countercultural truth: Your worth isn’t measured by your productivity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
The scrutiny would have been too fierce, he feared, the whispers of nepotism too loud.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
He leans closer and whispers, “Why are we whispering?”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
And then she whispered in my ear, and I said, “Yes, I know that one.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 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
“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
“What in the world have we gotten ourselves into?” she whispered as the security officers climbed out of the boat to flank us on either side.
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
I could hear the lechuzas whispering menacingly above me, up on the roof, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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.
