From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwhisperwhis‧per1 /ˈwɪspə $ -ər/ ●●● W3 verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]SAY 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.► see thesaurus at say2 [transitive]SUGGEST to say or suggest something privately or secretlywhisper that Staff were whispering that the company was about to go out of business.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
whisper• Those two always sit in the back of the room and whisper.• Why are you two whispering?• We had to whisper because Jill's mother was in the next room.• ""Don't wake the baby, '' whispered Jemima.• I whispered, quietly yet urgently, that there was a bear nearby.• Fran leant over and whispered something in her sister's ear.• You don't have to whisper - there's no one around.• I heard them whispering to the other sailors several times, but I did not suspect what they were planning.• Repeat, whispering up to eight in an even stream as you breathe out.whisper something to somebody• James leaned over to whisper something to Michael.whisper that• Some officers privately whispered that Combined Fleet Headquarters seemed seriously to underestimate enemy capabilities.• We've been hearing whispers that Dylan might not make the Olympic team.• Most controversial were whispers that Joseph Smith had gone so far in restoring ancient ways that he had reintroduced polygamy.• The other bands whispered that Joseph would now head for Lapwai, abandoning them as Lawyer had done.• She whispered that Klaus told her she must take the message from me after I'd read it.• Some whispered that Miss Monti was a Communist because of her unconventional behavior and radical dress.• Some people were whispering that Miss Moore was a communist.• These whispered that so far all was well.• Another whispered that the policeman was wary, unsure of what to reveal and what to hide.whisperwhisper2 ●●● W3 noun [countable] 1 SAYa very quiet voice you make using your breath and no soundin a whisper ‘Where are we going?’ he asked in a whisper.2 RUMOUR/RUMORa piece of news or information that has not been officially announced and may or may not be true SYN rumourwhisper of The first whisper of the redundancies came from the newspapers.whisper that There are whispers that the actor was seen checking into a hospital last week.3 → a whisper of somethingCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesa hoarse whisperHer voice came out as a hoarse whisper.a loud whisper‘Where are you going?’ I said in a loud whisper.a low/soft whisperWhen he spoke, it was in a low whisper.a stage whisper (=a loud whisper that you intend everyone to hear)'What’s going on?' Rory said, in a stage whisper.a hushed whisperThey spoke in the hushed whispers of churchgoers.an urgent whisper‘Daddy!’ he said in an urgent whisper.a fierce whisper‘Let me go!’ she said in a fierce whisper.a conspiratorial whisper (=used when you share a secret with someone)‘Does she suspect anything?’ said Ruth in a conspiratorial whisper.phrasesspeak/talk in whispersThey spoke in quick, urgent whispers.barely/hardly/scarcely above a whisper (=only a little louder than a whisper)'Not me', he said, in a voice barely above a whisper. Examples from the Corpus
whisper• Throughout presidential history, there have been whispers.• His words ended in a harsh whisper.• The driver conferred in hurried whispers with the men, and we climbed in quickly.• Both spoke to each other in whispers.• Control over the full range from thunderous chords to glittering passage work to a mere whisper of a pianissimo was total.• But Dai Huang was not around to hear their whispers.in a whisper• They want to give themselves away, in whispers, to some one standing in the shadows.• At the door we briefly confer in whispers.• Everyone was confiding an episode in whispers.• But they say it in a whisper.• Both spoke to each other in whispers.• "Well, that's finally over, " I said in a whisper.• I tried not to think about my father, and I was furious when the women speculated in whispers about the men.• They can get down now, and drink something, and talk in whispers.whisper that• Another whispered that the policeman was wary, unsure of what to reveal and what to hide.• The other bands whispered that Joseph would now head for Lapwai, abandoning them as Lawyer had done.• Some officers privately whispered that Combined Fleet Headquarters seemed seriously to underestimate enemy capabilities.• She whispered that Klaus told her she must take the message from me after I'd read it.• Some whispered that Miss Monti was a Communist because of her unconventional behavior and radical dress.• These whispered that so far all was well.• Most controversial were whispers that Joseph Smith had gone so far in restoring ancient ways that he had reintroduced polygamy.Origin whisper1 Old English hwisprian 