What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whisper
Example
She whispered the answer to her friend during the test. [whispered: past tense]
Example
He leaned in to whisper something in her ear. [whisper: verb]
murmur
Example
The murmuring of the river was soothing to her ears. [murmuring: gerund or present participle]
Example
The crowd murmured their disapproval at the decision. [murmur: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Whisper is more commonly used than murmur in everyday language. Whisper is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while murmur is less common and often used in specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between whisper and murmur?
Whisper is typically associated with an informal or intimate tone, while murmur can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the situation.
