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View synonyms for

whisper

[ hwis-per, wis-per ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to speak with soft, hushed sounds, using the breath, lips, etc., but with no vibration of the vocal cords.
  2. Phonetics. to produce utterance substituting breath for phonation.
  3. to talk softly and privately (often implying gossip, slander, plotting, or the like):

    The king knew that the courtiers were whispering.

  4. (of trees, water, breezes, etc.) to make a soft, rustling sound like that of whispering.


verb (used with object)

  1. to utter with soft, low sounds, using the breath, lips, etc.:

    He whispered endearments to her.

  2. Phonetics. to utter (speech sounds) substituting breath for phonation.
  3. to say or tell in a whisper; tell privately.
  4. to speak to or tell (a person) in a whisper or privately.

noun

  1. the mode of utterance, or the voice, of a person who whispers:

    to speak in a whisper.

  2. a word or remark uttered by whispering.
  3. a rumor or insinuation:

    Whispers circulated about the affair.

  4. a soft, rustling sound like a whisper:

    the whisper of leaves in the wind.

whisper

/ ˈɪə /

verb

  1. to speak or utter (something) in a soft hushed tone, esp without vibration of the vocal cords
  2. intr to speak secretly or furtively, as in promoting intrigue, gossip, etc
  3. intr (of leaves, trees, etc) to make a low soft rustling sound
  4. tr to utter or suggest secretly or privately

    to whisper treason

“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

noun

  1. a low soft voice

    to speak in a whisper

  2. something uttered in such a voice
  3. a low soft rustling sound
  4. a trace or suspicion
  5. informal.
    a rumour or secret
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of whisper1

First recorded before 950; Middle English whisperen (verb), Old English hwisprian; akin to German wispern, Old Norse hviskra, ī “to whistle”; whine
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Word History and Origins

Origin of whisper1

Old English hwisprian; related to Old Norse ī, Old High German ɾ貹ō, Dutch wispern
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Idioms and Phrases

see stage whisper .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In fact, she said that during the commercial break before the award was announced, she whispered to her manager, “I think it’s going to Mikey.”

From

And he has racist, lying cowards like Stephen Miller whispering in his ear, telling him everything he does is right.

From

However, my minder would often whisper in my ear afterwards, saying people were exaggerating about the prices.

From

Haughty, hypocritical Dingley, she fears, won’t want anything to do with the family once this scandal goes viral, which in the Regency period translates into a wildfire of whispering throughout polite society.

From

Luckily, the whispers were correct—XCX peppered her performance with predictable experiences.

From

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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.

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