Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
The act of speaking in a quiet voice, especially without vibration of the vocal cords; the sound thus produced.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A rumor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural-normally
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A faint trace or hint (of something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A low rustling sound, like that of the wind in leaves.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A private message to an individual in a chat room.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Internet
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A projection of intention and influence caused by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, occult, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration of the vocal cords which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: breathe
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To say (something) softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter (something) without sonant breath, without that vibration of the vocal cords which gives sonorous, or vocal, sound.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: breathe
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To mention privately and confidentially, or in a whisper.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To make a low, sibilant sound.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To speak with suspicion or timorous caution; to converse in whispers, as in secret plotting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To address in a whisper, or low voice.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To prompt secretly or cautiously; to inform privately.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To send a private message to an individual in a chat room.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Internet
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To exercise skill in taming or training a creature.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To project intention and influence events by sending thoughts or desires outward through softly-spoken words or subtle mental or energetic means; to subject someone or something to this influence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, occult, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: whispering, susurration, voicelessness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: speaking, speech production
Narrower terms: stage whisper
noun
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: rustle, rustling, whispering
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: noise
verb
speak softly; in a low voice
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: shout
Broader terms: talk, speak, utter, mouth, verbalize, verbalise
History
From Middle English whisperen, from Old English hwisprian (“to mutter, murmur, whisper”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwisprōn, from Proto-Germanic *hwisprōną (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱweys-, *ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with Dutch wisperen (“to whisper”), German wispern (“to mumble, whisper”). Related also to Danish hviske (“to whisper”), Icelandic hvískra (“to whisper”), Norwegian Bokmål hviske, kviskre (“to whisper”), Norwegian Nynorsk kviskre, kviskra (“to whisper”), Swedish viska (“to whisper”). More at English whistle.
Across languages
291 source translations are retained for this English entry.
