whispering: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; can be poetic/literary when describing sounds.
Quick answer
What does “whispering” mean?
Speaking very softly using one's breath without vocal cord vibration.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Speaking very softly using one's breath without vocal cord vibration.
Spreading rumours or information in a secretive or covert manner; a soft rustling sound similar to quiet speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Whispering campaign' is slightly more common in UK political/journalistic contexts.
Connotations
Both share connotations of secrecy, intimacy, or conspiracy.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English in literary descriptions of nature (e.g., 'whispering trees').
Grammar
How to Use “whispering” in a Sentence
whispering about [someone/something]whispering to [someone]whispering in [someone's ear/a place]whispering that [clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whispering” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They were whispering throughout the entire lecture, which was rather annoying.
- He leant over, whispering the code into her ear.
American English
- They kept whispering during the whole movie, which was distracting.
- She leaned in, whispering the password to him.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to confidential discussions or rumours about mergers, layoffs, or strategy.
Academic
Used in literary analysis (e.g., 'the whispering of the leaves as a pathetic fallacy') or social studies discussing rumour propagation.
Everyday
Describing people talking quietly so others don't hear; describing wind in trees or similar sounds.
Technical
Rare. Could be used in acoustics to describe very low-decibel speech phenomena.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whispering”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “whispering”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whispering”
- Using 'whispering' as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I heard a whispering' – better: 'I heard a whisper' or 'I heard whispering').
- Confusing 'whispering' (act/sound) with 'whisperer' (a person who whispers, e.g., horse whisperer).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. It is the present participle/gerund form of the verb 'to whisper' (e.g., 'He is whispering'), and it can also function as a common (usually uncountable) noun meaning the act or sound of whispering (e.g., 'I heard whispering').
It is uncommon and sounds odd to native speakers. Use 'a whisper' for a single instance or specific quiet utterance, and use 'whispering' (uncountable) for the general activity or sound (e.g., 'I heard a whisper' vs. 'I heard whispering').
They are very close. 'Whispering' is specifically breathy, non-vocalized speech. 'Murmuring' is low, indistinct, often continuous sound which may be vocalized. Whispering is more secretive; murmuring can be from discontent, sleep, or a crowd.
Its adjectival use is often in fixed phrases like 'whispering campaign' (a smear tactic) or 'whispering gallery' (an architectural feature). To describe a voice, use the verb form or 'whispered' (e.g., 'in a whispered voice').
Speaking very softly using one's breath without vocal cord vibration.
Whispering is usually neutral to formal; can be poetic/literary when describing sounds. in register.
Whispering: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪsp(ə)rɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “whispering campaign”
- “walls have ears (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'WHISPerING' – the 'whis' sounds like the quiet 'whish' of air, and a 'per' is a person. A person making a 'whish' sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECRECY IS WHISPERING (e.g., 'the whispering of secrets'); NATURE COMMUNICATES QUIETLY IS WHISPERING (e.g., 'whispering pines').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'whispering' LEAST likely to be used?