1
: a capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind : fancy
quit his job on a whim
2
: a large capstan that is made with one or more radiating arms to which a horse may be yoked and that is used in mines for raising ore or water
Choose the Right Synonym for whim

caprice, whim, vagary, crotchet mean an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire.

caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.

by sheer caprice she quit her job

whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination.

an odd antique that was bought on a whim

vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire.

he had been prone to strange vagaries

crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference.

a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets

Examples of whim in a Sentence

It's hard to predict voters' whims. on a whim, we stopped at the roadside stand to get ice cream
Recent Examples on the Web How did humans start catering to the whims of canines rather than the other way around? Sam Apple, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Someone who has only a single load to wash is at the whim of another person using all the machines. Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 Someone who only has a single load to wash is at the whim of another person using all the machines. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Many a band sink beneath the whims of its ebbs and flows. Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 But the position’s longevity depends on the whims of who’s in charge. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2024 Those who make money off social media are also at the whim of big platforms and their constantly changing algorithms, forcing them to adapt to what’s popular at the time. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 Elsewhere, discreet and attentive staff tend to guests’ every whim, while guests flit between the Guerlain Spa, The Plaza Hotel Fitness Center, and The Plaza Boutique—a homage to its Fifth Avenue location. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 12 Feb. 2024 How else would the First Lady of Music, deemed as such by one Clive Davis, flawlessly execute her industry-shifting surprise drops or differentiate herself from the hordes of pop stars bending to the algorithmic whim of TikTok and the like? Kyle Denis, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

short for whim-wham

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whim was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near whim

Cite this Entry

“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whim. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

whim

noun
ˈhwim How to pronounce whim (audio)
ˈwim
: an odd or sudden wish, desire, or change of mind

More from Merriam-Webster on whim

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