whispering

American  

[hwis-per-ing, wis-] / ˈʰwɪs pər ɪŋ, ˈwɪs- /

noun

1. whispered talk or conversation.

2. rumor, hearsay, or gossip.

3. a whispered sound.

---

adjective

1. that whispers; making a sound like a whisper.

2. like a whisper.

3. given to whispering; gossipy.

4. conversing in whispers.

Other Word Forms

• half-whisperingly
  adverb
• unwhispering
  adjective
• whisperingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of whispering

before 1000; Middle English (noun), Old English hwisprunge. See whisper, -ing ², -ing ¹

Explanation

Whispering is what you do when you speak so softly that you can barely be heard. Most teachers have a rule that there's no whispering allowed while the class is taking a test. Whispering involves using your breath, rather than your vocal cords, to speak very quietly. You might hear whispering in the quiet section of the library or during a play or movie — it's used for communicating secrets or simply to avoid bothering other people. The word can also be used as an adjective for sounds that resemble a whisper, like the whispering wind through the trees on a breezy day.

Example Sentences

Bayley is then seen in the video whispering: "They're gone."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

She was whispering into the phone so no one nearby would hear her.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

The lawmaker who attended the briefing didn’t elaborate, though Kim Ju Ae has been seen whispering in her father’s ear at certain events.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Investors are betting that objective symbiosis and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s skilled Trump whispering will renew the pact with minimal changes.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

I glance back at Connor, but he doesn’t stir as I slip free from the covers, the fabric whispering against my flannel pajamas.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day