whisper

[hwis-per, wis-per]

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verb (used without object)

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)

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

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.

Origin of whisper

before 950; Middle English whisperen (v.), Old English hwisprian; cognate with German wispern; akin to Old Norse hviskra to whisper, hvīsla to whistle. See whine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for whisper

hint, innuendo, sigh, murmur, buzz, gossip, breath, shadow, whiff, suspicion, hiss, mutter, confide, mumble, disclosure, confidence, word, insinuation, susurration, hum

Examples from the Web for whisper

Contemporary Examples of whisper

He speaks in a whisper, flanked by the two locals who set up the meeting.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan
Umar Farooq
December 29, 2014
Supporters of the Putin regime were pointed out in a whisper.
From Moscow to Queens, Down Sergei Dovlatov Way
Daniel Genis
September 15, 2014
Darren was the kind of man who'd lug a sofa bed up three flights of stairs without a whisper of complaint.
Let Us Now Praise Famous Rednecks and Their Unjustly Unsung Kin
Allison Glock
August 23, 2014
“Lilly… Ledbetter…” we whisper to ourselves as we frown at men.
Getting to Know the ‘Beyoncé Voter’
Kelly Williams Brown
July 7, 2014
A woman came up to whisper about a case of public corruption.
A Woman Blogger’s Scoop Helped Save Tunisia From Islamists
Thomas A. Bass
April 6, 2014

Historical Examples of whisper

She heard him speaking in a voice not louder than a whisper, rapid, distinct.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
It was no louder than a whisper from without—the creak of a board.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
There was a monotone of desolation as she went on speaking in a whisper meant for the ears of no other.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Her voice was little more than a whisper, but it was loud in the listener's heart.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
His tone was hardly louder than a whisper, but spoken with great distinctness.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for whisper

whisper

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 privatelyto whisper treason

noun

a low soft voiceto speak in a whisper

something uttered in such a voice

a low soft rustling sound

a trace or suspicion

informal a rumour or secret

Word Origin for whisper

Old English hwisprian; related to Old Norse hvīskra, Old High German hwispalōn, Dutch wispern

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for whisper

Old English hwisprian "speak very softly" (only in a Northumbrian gloss for Latin murmurare), from Proto-Germanic *khwis- (cf. Middle Dutch wispelen, Old High German hwispalon, German wispeln, wispern, Old Norse hviskra "to whisper"), imitative and probably related to Old English hwistlian "to whistle." Related: Whispered; whispering. The noun is from 1590s.

Idioms and Phrases with whisper

whisper

see stage whisper.