whim

[hwim, wim]

noun

1. an odd or capricious notion or desire; a sudden or freakish fancy.

   a sudden whim to take a midnight walk.

   Synonyms: caprice, vagary, whimsy

2. capricious humor.

   to be swayed by whim.

whim

/ wɪm /

noun

1. a sudden, passing, and often fanciful idea; impulsive or irrational thought

2. a horse-drawn winch formerly used in mining to lift ore or water

Word History and Origins

Origin of whim¹

First recorded in 1635–45; short for whim-wham

Word History and Origins

Origin of whim¹

C17: from _whim-wham

Example Sentences

Of course, not everyone can head into the woods on a whim but the good news is, you don't have to.

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Engie wants out of the nuclear energy business, which for decades has subjected it to antinuclear protests and the changing whims of Belgian politics.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

You cannot just slouch in off the street on a whim, assuming you have a couple hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket.

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It also risks further entrenching big pharma, which can afford to move its manufacturing and shift supply chains on whim.

Read more on Barron's

"You can be the cream of the crop one day and cold porridge the next - gone in a whim if you don't live up to expectations," he said.

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Related Words

• impulse 
• inclination 
• vagary