whisper

Pluralwhispers

Formswhispers, whispering, whispered

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An act of speaking very quietly, using breath rather than the vibration of the vocal cords.

   He delivered the warning in a barely audible whisper.

   Across the hall, their nervous whispers blended into a steady hum.

   Similarmurmur, undertone

   Oppositeshout, yell

   Note

   The core sense, and the place where the word's oldest story belongs. Old English hwisprian meant "to mutter, murmur, whisper," and its Germanic ancestor meant "to hiss, whistle, whisper." The noun is countable, so English speaks in a whisper, in a near whisper, or in a steady whisper that is no more than audible, which is how Jim Hawkins is addressed in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To speak very softly, using breath rather than the vibration of the vocal cords, so that only someone nearby can hear.

   They whisper whenever the teacher turns toward the board.

   He leaned in and whispered close to her ear.

   Similarbreathe

   Oppositeshout, yell

   Note

   Here the verb stands without an object: people simply whisper, whisper to someone, or whisper as others pass by. Breathe is its close synonym, and the phonetic point behind both is that a whisper is breath shaped into words with no voice behind it. Once the words themselves become the object, you have moved into the transitive use.

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To say something very softly, using breath rather than vocal-cord vibration, so that only someone nearby can hear it.

   He whispered an apology before slipping out of the room.

   Whisper your name, and I will add you to the list.

   Similarbreathe

   Oppositeshout, yell

   Note

   The transitive use puts the words themselves in object position: you whisper an apology, a name, a warning. Its best-known fixed phrase is whisper sweet nothings. Ira Berkow played on it in The New York Times in 1981, wondering whether a famous courtship had been conducted in "Stengelese." Breathe can stand in here too, since to breathe a word is close to whispering it.

4. 4
   nounfigurativelycountable

   A barely perceptible amount or hint of something, such as a flavor or a tone.

   A whisper of sarcasm crept into her otherwise polite reply.

   The soup had just a whisper of garlic.

   Similarhint, trace, touch, suggestion

5. 5
   nouncountable

   An unconfirmed report or rumor that spreads quietly among people.

   A whisper of a merger sent the stock price climbing.

   Whispers of his resignation reached the press before any official word.

   Similarrumor, hint, murmur

   Note

   Rumor usually travels in the plural: whispers of rebellion, whispers of a resignation, careless whispers. The singular does exist. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley titled their 1984 song "Careless Whisper," yet the lyric itself uses the plural, for a friend's gossip. The pattern worth keeping is whispers of followed by whatever is being rumored.

6. 6
   nouncountable

   A low, soft rustling sound, like that of wind in the leaves.

   A whisper of silk accompanied her every movement.

   The forest answered with the whisper of branches overhead.

   Similarrustle, murmur, swish, sigh

7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To mention something privately and confidentially, or in a low voice.

   Insiders whisper the names of likely candidates well before any vote.

   She whispered the merger details to a single trusted reporter.

   Similarconfide, murmur

   Oppositeannounce, proclaim

8. 8
   verbintransitive

   To make a low, hissing or rustling sound.

   The wind whispered through the broken window all night.

   Old radiators whisper as the steam moves through them.

   Similarrustle, murmur, sigh, hiss

   Note

   No speaker is needed for this one: breezes, leaves and laurels whisper. Poets made much of it, from James Thomson's "hollow, whispering breeze" in The Seasons to the laurel that whispers "sweet" in Tennyson's In Memoriam (1850). The participle whispering often works as an adjective. This is also the sense closest to the hissing and whistling in the word's root, traced under the speaking noun.

9. 9
   verbintransitive

   To talk in low voices, often cautiously or while secretly plotting.

   The conspirators whispered late into the night.

   Whenever the boss left, the staff would whisper about the rumored cuts.

   Similarmurmur, mutter, gossip

   Note

   Whispering as conspiracy needs more than one speaker, and it is often followed by together or against. The King James Bible of 1611 has "All that hate me whisper together against me," where the low voice signals hostility rather than courtesy. Whisper about keeps the suspicion but drops the plot, as with staff whispering about rumored cuts.

10. 10
    verbtransitive

    To tame or train an animal through skilled, gentle, quiet handling.

    Trainers who whisper difficult animals rely on patience rather than force.

    She whispered the nervous mare back to a steady walk.

    Similartame, coax, soothe, calm

Showing meanings only. Show all 15