whispering

[ hwis-per-ing, wis- ]

/ ˈʰwɪs pər ɪŋ, ˈwɪs- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR whispering ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

whispered talk or conversation.

rumor, hearsay, or gossip.

a whispered sound.

adjective

that whispers; making a sound like a whisper.

like a whisper.

given to whispering; gossipy.

conversing in whispers.

Nearby words

Origin of whispering

before 1000; Middle English (noun), Old English hwisprunge. See whisper, -ing², -ing¹

Related formswhis·per·ing·ly, adverbhalf-whis·per·ing·ly, adverbun·whis·per·ing, adjective

Definition for whispering (2 of 2)

whisper

[ hwis-per, wis-per ]

/ ˈʰwɪs pər, ˈwɪs pər /

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

Examples from the Web for whispering

Whispering to himself and bowing, he touches his forehead to the ground.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The budget is a mess and officials in Trenton are whispering about a state takeover of the city's finances.
The Leak of a Mysterious Video Could Change the Outcome of Newark’s Mayor’s Race|Charles Upton Sahm|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The World Wide Web is whispering that it's actually a reference to Avril Lavigne's own, well, “kitty.”
Avril Lavigne’s Dumb ‘Hello Kitty’ Video Is Rife with Cultural Appropriation|Amy Zimmerman|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I studied them to see if they were whispering to each other, to talk about what to do.
What That RNC Aide’s Equal Pay Blunder on MSNBC Says About Her Party|Michael Tomasky|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Bonus—read his A Time of Gifts about his walk across Europe in 1933-1934 before a whispering fire.
My Favorite Books of 2013: Jill Lepore, Adelle Waldman, James Salter & More|Lucas Wittmann|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
However, she said to Helen, whispering it over in bed that night, it will be funny.
Ruth Fielding In the Saddle|Alice B. Emerson
She was whispering, with streaming eyes intent upon the sky-light, as if she were looking for a healthy Father there.
Perlycross|R. D. Blackmore
I had been some two hours and a half asleep when I was awakened by a whispering in the little cabin.
The Civil War in America|William Howard Russell
He came back, whispering that she was still asleep, but that he thought she had moved.
The Old Curiosity Shop|Charles Dickens
They had gone more than half-way home when they drew rein to water their horses, under a whispering pine by the roadside.
John Ward, Preacher|Margaret Deland

British Dictionary definitions for whispering

whisper

/ (ˈwɪspə) /

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 whispering

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 whispering

whisper

see stage whisper.

whispering

noun

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of whispering

Definition for whispering (2 of 2)

whisper

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of whisper

Examples from the Web for whispering

British Dictionary definitions for whispering

whisper

verb

noun

Word Origin for whisper

Word Origin and History for whispering

whisper

Idioms and Phrases with whispering

whisper