whis·per
ˈ(h)wi-spər 
whispered; whispering
ˈ(h)wi-sp(ə-)riŋ
1
: to speak softly with little or no vibration of the vocal cords especially to avoid being overheard
2
: to make a sibilant sound that resembles whispering
1
: something communicated by or as if by whispering
2
a
: an act or instance of whispering
especially
: speech without vibration of the vocal cords
b
: a sibilant sound that resembles whispered speech
Synonyms
Examples of whisper in a Sentence
Verb
He whispered in my ear.
She leaned over and whispered to the girl next to her.
I couldn't hear what they were saying because they were whispering.
She leaned over and whispered something to the girl next to her.
“I'll be right back,” she whispered.
A soft breeze whispered through the trees.
Noun
She spoke in a whisper.
the whisper of the wind
I've heard whispers that the company might go out of business.
Recent Examples on the Web
Krista Vernoff, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024
The faux poster was an alteration to the official Universal Pictures marketing materials in which Elphaba’s full face is on display as Glinda (Ariana Grande) whispers in her ear.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Nov. 2024
The Kimberley is a truly wild place, where human history is merely a whisper over millennia.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whisper 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
The same way that our culture has taught us to whisper about our periods and hide our tampons—despite the fact that our menstrual cycles perpetuate our species—new mothers are culturally guided to hide the more brutal details of childbirth.
—Krista Vernoff, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024
The faux poster was an alteration to the official Universal Pictures marketing materials in which Elphaba’s full face is on display as Glinda (Ariana Grande) whispers in her ear.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
In a glancing sense, for me, there are whispers of the Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman musical Follies in The Last Showgirl.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Nov. 2024
The Kimberley is a truly wild place, where human history is merely a whisper over millennia.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whisper
Dictionary Entries Near whisper
Cite this Entry
“Whisper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whisper. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whisper
2 of 2 noun1
: something said by or as if by whispering
2
: an act or instance of whispering
3
: a barely noticeable amount : hint
showed only a whisper of concern
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share