whisper

whisper

I

whis‧per¹ W3 /ˈwɪspə $ -ər/ verb1. [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.

II

whisper² noun [countable]
1. a very quiet voice you make using your breath and no sound
    in a whisper
    ‘Where are we going?’ he asked in a whisper.
2. a piece of news or information that has not been officially announced and may or may not be true
   SYN  rumour
    whisper 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 something literary a low soft sound made by something such as the wind
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives
   ▪ a hoarse whisper Her voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
   ▪ a loud whisper ‘Where are you going?’ I said in a loud whisper.
   ▪ a low/soft whisper When 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 whisper They 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.
■ phrases
   ▪ speak/talk in whispers They 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.