whisper
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Related Words for whisper
hint, innuendo, sigh, murmur, buzz, gossip, breath, shadow, whiff, suspicion, hiss, mutter, confide, mumble, disclosure, confidence, word, insinuation, susurration, humExamples from the Web for whisper
Contemporary Examples of whisper
He speaks in a whisper, flanked by the two locals who set up the meeting.
Supporters of the Putin regime were pointed out in a whisper.
Darren was the kind of man who'd lug a sofa bed up three flights of stairs without a whisper of complaint.
“Lilly… Ledbetter…” we whisper to ourselves as we frown at men.
A woman came up to whisper about a case of public corruption.
Historical Examples of whisper
She heard him speaking in a voice not louder than a whisper, rapid, distinct.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
It was no louder than a whisper from without—the creak of a board.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
There was a monotone of desolation as she went on speaking in a whisper meant for the ears of no other.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Her voice was little more than a whisper, but it was loud in the listener's heart.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
His tone was hardly louder than a whisper, but spoken with great distinctness.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
whisper
- 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
- 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
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.