whim

noun

ˈ(h)wim 

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

Synonyms of whim

• notion
• caprice
• thought
• vagary
• whimsy
• fantasy
• fancy
• impression

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

But Ederra and crew push their whims further. —Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026

The tension between Carol and Carol Two ratchets up as the latter caters to every whim of the men in the household with a wide smile and not a hint of resentment. —David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

As a medium tied to evolving technology and the whims of capital, film has panic about its future baked into its very foundations. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026

While others have shared my friend’s experience, a variety of factors—water temperature, visibility, the inscrutable whims of these mysterious creatures—can make spotting them a challenge. —David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for whim-wham

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing whim

• at the whim of (someone)
• on a whim
• satisfy someone's every whim
• whim-wham

Rhymes for whim

• brim
• clim
• dim
• grim
• gym
• him
• hymn
• im
• limb
• mim
• prim
• rim

Kids Definition

whim

noun

ˈhwim 

ˈwim

: an odd or sudden wish, desire, or change of mind