whim

[ wim, hwim ]

/ wɪm, ʰwɪm /

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See synonyms for: whim / whims on Thesaurus.com

noun

an odd or capricious notion or desire; a sudden or freakish fancy: a sudden whim to take a midnight walk.

capricious humor: to be swayed by whim.

OTHER WORDS FOR whim

1 whimsy, vagary, caprice.

See synonyms for whim on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of whim

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use whim in a sentence

There is no middle ground in submitting our sacred rights to the whims of foreign tyrants.
The Sony Hack and America’s Craven Capitulation To Terror|David Keyes|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They are not locked into the whims of those more powerful, because their knowledge and abilities open doors.
Promoting Girls’ Education Isn’t Enough: Malala Can Do More|Paula Kweskin|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The whims of fashionistas have brought us bellbottoms and skinny jeans and everything in between.
100 Years of Beauty Styles in 1 Minute|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A president can do it, indulging his whims through unwritten laws and executive action.
Valerie Jarrett, Obama Consigliere—and Democracy Killer|James Poulos|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Most Americans have viewed Africa through the lens of LiveAid or Black Hawk Down or the altruistic whims of Madonna.
How I Got Addicted to Africa (and Wrote a Thriller About It)|Todd Moss|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He knew absolutely nothing about her except the story she told of childish innocence and the whims of a selfish libertine.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson
And he had borne with patience all her imperious strictures and had obeyed all her crazy and jealous whims.
Jaffery|William J. Locke
I have trouble enough doing the chores without catering to her whims.
The Red Cow and Her Friends|Peter McArthur
The covert sneers at and the openly-expressed compassion for his comrade's whims, weaknesses, and deficiencies, tell a tale.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks
Most of his churches were ingenious compromises between his ideals and their necessities or whims.
Milton's England|Lucia Ames Mead

British Dictionary definitions for whim

whim

/ (wɪm) /

noun

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

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

Word Origin for whim

C17: from whim-wham

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

whim

OTHER WORDS FOR whim

Origin of whim

Words related to whim

How to use whim in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for whim

Word Origin for whim