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
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
This translates into collections that transcend seasonal whims, instead offering timeless pieces with modern sensibilities.
—
Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 2 June 2025
Ownership of the Birmingham Property changed hands several times through transactions initiated at the whims of the Respondent.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
In Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane, the single mom of five, who runs the Baby Phat brand, will be dealing with the whims of her model daughters, cheering at her sons’ championship games and celebrating her own major milestones.
—Peter White, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Automatic bids would provide a layer of protection for the blue bloods from the whims of a committee that uses an inscrutable process.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for whim
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Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 2 June 2025
Ownership of the Birmingham Property changed hands several times through transactions initiated at the whims of the Respondent.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
In Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane, the single mom of five, who runs the Baby Phat brand, will be dealing with the whims of her model daughters, cheering at her sons’ championship games and celebrating her own major milestones.
—Peter White, Deadline, 12 May 2025
Automatic bids would provide a layer of protection for the blue bloods from the whims of a committee that uses an inscrutable process.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for whim
Cite this Entry
“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whim. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whim
noun
ˈhwim 
ˈwim
: an odd or sudden wish, desire, or change of mind
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