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 The outcomes are subject to the whims of weather and stock, and typically beset by high rates of by-catch – the residual capture and depletion of turtles, fish, and other aquatic life. Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Venus shares its dreams and whims with Neptune retrograde in Pisces on 15th October. Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 23 Sep. 2024 Content creators’ careers, because they’re tied to online metrics and the fickle whims of the internet, are volatile. Taylor Lorenz, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024 This role is essential for ensuring that change initiatives are not based on whims or untested ideas but are instead rooted in a deep understanding of organizational dynamics. Thomas Lim, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for whim 

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 31 Oct. 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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