To whisper means to speak very quietly, using only your breath and barely any voice, so that only people close to you can hear. When you whisper in the library, you make sounds with your mouth that are so soft they won't disturb others reading nearby. A whisper is quieter than normal talking but louder than complete silence.

People whisper for different reasons. You might whisper a secret to your best friend during lunch, or whisper “good luck” to a nervous classmate before their presentation. Sometimes you whisper because you don't want others to overhear what you're saying. Other times you whisper simply because the situation calls for quiet, like during a movie or in a museum.

The word can also describe other quiet sounds. Wind can whisper through leaves, creating a soft rustling noise. Someone might talk about the whisper of pages turning in a quiet room. These uses capture that same quality of gentleness and softness.

When someone says a rumor spreads like whispers, they mean the information passes quietly from person to person. And if you hear about something whispered about at school, it means people are discussing it secretly or cautiously, as though it's too sensitive or exciting to talk about openly.