verb
whisper
WIHS-puh
verb
1
To speak very quietly, using breath rather than the full voice, so only someone nearby can hear.
"She leaned over and whispered the secret in his ear."
"Don't whisper during the exam, or you'll be disqualified."
noun
1
A very quiet way of speaking, or an unconfirmed rumour.
"He spoke in a whisper so as not to wake the baby."
"There were whispers around the office about layoffs."
How to Use Whisper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo speak very softly, or a soft, quiet sound or rumour.
Common pairings
whisper in someone's ear
a whisper of doubt
rumours and whispers
Word Forms
whispered past tense, whispers plural, whispers singular
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Etymology
From Old English hwisprian, "to murmur or mutter" — imitative in origin, echoing the soft hissing sound of quiet speech.