whim

noun \ ˈhwim , ˈwim \

Updated on: 20 May 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

In the Book of Javerbaum, this is an Old Testament God, one given to flashes of anger and whim.

— theodore p. mahne, NOLA.com, "Bryan Batt's divine performance key to comedy of 'Act of God' at Le Petit," 14 May 2018
The Viceroy L’Ermitage hotel in Beverly Hills has a special package that should indulge every whim of your own inner royal.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "3 Distinct Ways to Celebrate the Royal Wedding Day in L.A.," 14 May 2018
Events grace the calendar throughout the year, and bars, restaurants, and entertainment are LGBTQ-friendly and suit any taste, whim, or style.

— courant staff, courant.com, "Expedia Names Hartford As One Of World's Most Exciting LGBTQ-Friendly Cities," 11 May 2018
Sit at the bar, and the bartender/owner, a Tennessee native named Braden, will guide you through the menu and happily concoct a cocktail tailored to your every and any whim.

— julia sherman, Vogue, "Ceramics, Chilaquiles, and Micheladas: An Artist’s Guide to Guadalajara," 10 May 2018
This time around, Khan’s father was less cooperative with his son’s romantic whims.

— refinery29.com, "The First American Celebrity To Marry Into Royalty Had A Shocking Life," 10 May 2018
My stepmother had bought some land there—on a wild whim—in the early 1960s when my father was still a diplomat with the State Department.

— gully wells, WSJ, "My Father’s Island Home Is Where My Heart Is," 9 May 2018
Beautiful, virtuous rancher’s daughters, and dashing outlaws, and a whole brothel of cheerful, STD-free hosts designed to cater to every whim.

— scott meslow, GQ, "Westworld Is for White People," 7 May 2018
That starts with ensuring that the work of special counsel Robert Mueller and his team won’t be stopped by presidential whim.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "Democrats’ 2018 impeachment dilemma, explained," 30 Apr. 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.