whispers
/ˈwɪs.pər/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɪspɚz] /ˈwɪs.pɚ/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɪspɚz] /ˈ(h)wi-spər How to pronounce whisper (audio)/ (ame, mw)
whispers — verb
- whisperspresent simple I / you / we / they
- whisperses3rd person singular
- whispersing-ing form
- whispersedpast simple
1. to say something with almost no voice, keeping the sound quiet enough for just o
to say something with almost no voice, keeping the sound quiet enough for just one nearby listener
Karim whispers the gate code to Hui before the museum tour starts.
whispers + noun + to + person
The flight attendant whispers that row twelve may board first.
whispers that + clause
Aylin whispers to her son during the school play.
The nurse whispers a reminder before the patient enters the scan room.
文法句型
whispers + noun
whispers to + person
whispers that + clause
用法筆記
Usually takes the spoken words as the object or uses to before the listener. This sense is about keeping the voice very low for someone nearby to hear.
常見錯誤
2. to let people know in a private, indirect way that something may be true before
to let people know in a private, indirect way that something may be true before anyone proves it
Everyone whispers that the landlord plans to sell the building.
whispers that + clause
The town whispers about a secret buyer for the old cinema.
whispers about + noun
The office whispers that a merger may follow the late audit.
The whole school whispers that the coach may resign in June.
文法句型
whispers that + clause
whispers about + noun
用法筆記
Most often appears with a that-clause or about and usually suggests a group spreading an unconfirmed story rather than one person speaking directly.
常見錯誤
whispers — noun
1. very soft spoken words that people use when they do not want others nearby to he
very soft spoken words that people use when they do not want others nearby to hear
Whispers rippled across the bus when the lights suddenly went out.
whispers spread through a place
The children answered in whispers while the baby slept upstairs.
in whispers
Soft whispers rose from the last row during the piano recital.
Hui heard whispers outside the clinic door after her appointment.
- murmurs
can mean quiet voices too, but is less strongly tied to secrecy
- hushed voices
describes low quiet speech in a more descriptive way
文法句型
in whispers
hear whispers
soft whispers
用法筆記
Often appears with in when people are speaking quietly together. The plural form usually suggests several low voices rather than one short spoken word.
常見錯誤
2. gentle, quiet sounds made by wind, cloth, rain, or other light movement
gentle, quiet sounds made by wind, cloth, rain, or other light movement
Whispers of wind slipped through the pines behind the cabin.
whispers of + sound source
The curtain made soft whispers against the open window frame.
soft whispers
Whispers of silk followed the dancers across the polished floor.
Minh paused at the door listening to whispers of rain on leaves.
文法句型
whispers of + noun
soft whispers
用法筆記
Often appears in the pattern whispers of plus the thing making the sound. Unlike noun sense 1, this sense is about noise from movement, not spoken words.
3. private talk or a small piece of news that passes from person to person before i
private talk or a small piece of news that passes from person to person before it is confirmed
Whispers about the delayed results reached the parents by noon.
whispers about + topic
The first whispers of layoffs spread after the finance director left.
first whispers of + event
Joaquín ignored whispers that the gallery would close for good.
Whispers from city hall made the reporters check the budget twice.
- confirmation
is clear proof that something is true
- announcement
is public information released openly
文法句型
whispers about + noun
whispers that + clause
first whispers of + noun
用法筆記
Very often used in the plural when the same unconfirmed story is circulating among several people. It suggests secrecy more strongly than the more neutral word rumour.