Oxford Essential Dictionary
whisper
verb (whispers, whispering, whispered )
to speak very quietly to somebody, so that other people cannot hear what you are saying:
He whispered so that he would not wake the baby up.
>> whisper noun:
She spoke in a whisper.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
whisper
I. whis‧per1 W3 /ˈwɪspə $ -ər/ BrE AmE verb
[Language: Old English; Origin: hwisprian]
1. [intransitive and transitive] to speak or say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your voice:
You don’t have to whisper, no one can hear us.
whisper about
What are you two whispering about over there?
whisper something to somebody
James leaned over to whisper something to Michael.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he whispered in her ear.
2. [transitive] to say or suggest something privately or secretly
whisper that
Staff were whispering that the company was about to go out of business.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ different ways of saying something
▪ whisper to say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your full voice: ‘Don’t wake the baby,’ Jenny whispered.
▪ mumble to say something quietly without pronouncing the words clearly: He mumbled his thanks.
▪ mutter to say something quietly, especially when you are annoyed but do not want someone to hear you complaining: ‘This is ridiculous,’ he muttered under his breath. | She muttered something about having to go home early.
▪ murmur to say something in a soft slow gentle voice: She stroked his hair and murmured, ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be all right.’
▪ growl to say something in a low angry voice: ‘As I was saying,’ Lewis growled, ‘it needs to be finished today.’
▪ snarl to say something in a nasty angry way: ‘Get out of my way!’ he snarled.
▪ exclaim to say something suddenly and loudly: ‘How beautiful!’ she exclaimed.
▪ blurt out to suddenly say something without thinking, especially something embarrassing or secret: It was partly nervousness that had made him blurt out the question.
▪ stammer/stutter to speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous or excited: ‘I’ll, I’ll only be a m-moment,’ he stammered.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
whisper
whis·per [whisper whispers whispered whispering] verb, noun [ˈwɪspə(r)] [ˈwɪspər]
verb
1. intransitive, transitive to speak very quietly to sb so that other people cannot hear what you are saying
Syn: murmur
• Don't you know it's rude to whisper?
• ~ about sth What are you two whispering about?
• + speech ‘Can you meet me tonight?’ he whispered.
• ~ sth (to sb) She leaned over and whispered something in his ear.
• ~ (to sb) that… He whispered to me that he was afraid.
2. transitive, often passive ~ that… | it is whispered that… to say or suggest sth about sb/sth in a private or secret way
• It was whispered that he would soon die and he did.
3. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) (literary) (of leaves, the wind, etc.) to make a soft, quiet sound
• A warm breeze whispered through the trees.
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Old English hwisprian, of Germanic origin; related to German wispeln, from the imitative base of whistle.
Example Bank:
• ‘Come on,’ he whispered urgently.
• ‘Hush!’ he whispered against her hair.
• ‘Let's go,’ she whispered to Anne.
• ‘No!’ he whispered through gritted teeth.
• ‘Yes,’ I whispered back.
• He could only whisper in reply.
• He held her and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.
• I felt that everyone was whispering about me.
• She heard him whisper her name.
• Don't you know it's rude to whisper?
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
whisper / ˈwɪs.pə r / / -pɚ / verb [ I or T ] (SPEAK)
whisper
B2 to speak very quietly, using the breath but not the voice, so that only the person close to you can hear you:
She leaned over and whispered something in his ear.
What are you two girls whispering about?
[ + speech ] "Where are the toilets?" she whispered.
It's rude to whisper!
whisper / ˈwɪs.pə r / / -pɚ / verb [ + that ] (SUGGEST)
to suggest privately that something might be true:
People are whispering that she's going to retire next year.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
whisper
[(h)wɪ̱spə(r)]
♦♦♦
whispers, whispering, whispered
1) VERB When you whisper, you say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your throat, so that only one person can hear you.
[V with quote] `Keep your voice down,' I whispered...
[V prep] She sat on Rossi's knee as he whispered in her ear...
[V n prep] He whispered the message to David...
[V that] Somebody whispered that films like that were illegal...
[V n] She whispered his name.
N-COUNT
Whisper is also a noun. Men were talking in whispers in every office.
2) VERB If people whisper about a piece of information, they talk about it, although it might not be true or accurate, or might be a secret.
[V about wh/n] For years English football has whispered about how transfer transactions are used to hide perks for players and managers...
[it be V-ed that] It is whispered that he intended to resign...
[V n] But don't whisper a word of that.
Syn:
rumour
N-COUNT
Whisper is also a noun. I've heard a whisper that the Bishop intends to leave.
3) VERB If something whispers, it makes a low quiet sound which can only just be heard. [LITERARY]
The cold breeze moved through the bushes around him, whispering just loud enough to obscure the chanting...
[V prep/adv] The car's tires whispered through the puddles.
[V-ing] ...whispering ceiling fans.
N-COUNT: usu sing
Whisper is also a noun. They heard the whisper of leaves.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1whis·per /ˈwɪspɚ/ verb -pers; -pered; -per·ing
1 : to speak very softly or quietly
[no obj]
• He whispered in/into 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.
[+ obj]
• She whispered his name.
• She leaned over and whispered something to the girl next to her.
• “I'll be right back,” she whispered.
2 [no obj] : to produce a quiet sound
• A soft breeze whispered through the trees.
- whis·per·er /ˈwɪspɚrɚ/ noun, pl -ers [count]