whim

noun \ ˈhwim , ˈwim \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Definition of whim

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

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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 of whim from the Web

After graduation, holding a political science degree but unsure of his career path, Levine responded on a whim to an ad in the Miami Herald for a port lecturer with Royal Caribbean.

— david smiley, joey flechas and danny rivero, miamiherald, "Hustle and Flow: How Philip Levine made the money that’s financing his bid for governor," 10 July 2018
The soft-spoken native of Arkansas began in 2011 by acting on something of a whim and throwing together the website for Mt. Gox, the infamous Bitcoin exchange that became the largest in the world before imploding in 2014.

— New York Times, "The People Leading the Blockchain Revolution," 27 June 2018
Many do, but that can kill the entire vibe of motorcycle riding, which is often to ride on a whim, anywhere, and feel ultimate freedom.

— Fortune, "This Alta Motorcycle Hints at Harley-Davidson’s Electric Future," 5 June 2018
Many do, but that can kill the entire vibe of motorcycle riding, which is often to ride on a whim, anywhere, and feel ultimate freedom.

— hannah elliott, Bloomberg.com, "This Alta Motorcycle Hints at Harley-Davidson’s Electric Future," 5 June 2018
Case in point: the tie-dye bandana Jackson grabs on a whim and wraps around her head, letting her blonde rocker waves float over the top.

— kirby marzec, Vogue, "Paris Jackson on Her All-American Approach to Denim," 15 May 2018
Magnates who are politically astute will still have an edge if knowing how to dodge a price cap imposed on a ministerial whim, for example, is a surer guide to success than knowing how to run a factory.

— The Economist, "The humbling of India’s tycoons," 19 Apr. 2018
The year is 1953, and Russians are being killed on a whim by the hundreds and thousands, rounded up daily for torture, imprisonment, exile, or execution.

— christopher orr, The Atlantic, "The Death of Stalin Is a Wicked Farce," 16 Mar. 2018
The idea on a whim the president accepted an invitation without thinking about it.

— Fox News, "Priebus on House Intel probe, free trade, Pennsylvania race," 13 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whim.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of whim

short for whim-wham

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1686

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

whim Synonyms

Synonyms

bee, caprice, crank, fancy, freak, humor, kink, megrims, notion, vagary, vagrancy, whimsy (also whimsey);

conceit;

concept, conception, image, impression, mind's eye, picture, thought;

brainstorm, inspiration;

Phrases

bee in one's bonnet;

Synonym Discussion of whim

caprice, whim, vagary, crotchet mean an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire. caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness.