whispering

1 of 2

noun

whis·​per·​ing ˈ(h)wi-sp(ə-)riŋ 

1

a

: whispered speech

b

: gossip, rumor

2

: a sibilant sound : whisper

whispering

2 of 2

adjective

1

: making a sibilant sound

2

: spreading confidential and especially derogatory reports

whispering tongues can poison truth

—S. T. Coleridge

whisperingly

ˈ(h)wi-sp(ə-)riŋ-lē 

adverb

Examples of whispering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Merritt and Brown sat in the front, whispering; Pope, in the back, strained to hear them. —Ian Frisch, Curbed, 9 Jan. 2025

But the voice had range: needling, charming, whispering, condemning. —Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Follow your intuition as the universe is whispering to you. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

The creaking and whispering noises that once haunted them vanished, and their house felt safe again. —Amplified Content Studio, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing whispering

• whispering campaign
• whispering sweet nothings