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
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
See All Example Sentences for whim
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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
See All Example Sentences for whim
Cite this Entry
“Whim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whim. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whim
noun
ˈhwim 
ˈwim
: an odd or sudden wish, desire, or change of mind
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