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

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

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

Only 24% of voters today recognize that their future benefits are subject to the whims of Congress and the president. —Scott Rasmussen, Boston Herald, 6 July 2025

There are only six seats and two nightly seatings Thursday to Saturday for tasting menus that are dictated by the seasons and the whims of the chef. —Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

Adapting to the whims of a star is no small task, however. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 3 July 2025

Solutions to this conundrum are complex, but Americans can start by identifying their values and morals and refusing to bend them to the whim of parties. —Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2025

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