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
But Greer is attempting to systematize a policy environment that is being by driven by fiat and decree, the whims of the man at the top.
—
Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
The very structure and pacing of the film reflects the rhythm of a real game—tense, strategic and methodical, but always at the whim of whatever fate has in store.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Such an outcome would resonate beyond the NLRB and MSPB, potentially making way for the political whims of the White House to have a greater effect on independent agencies across the federal government.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2025
Call us old fashioned, but such an order should require an act of Congress, not just at the whim of whoever is in the White House.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whim
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
The very structure and pacing of the film reflects the rhythm of a real game—tense, strategic and methodical, but always at the whim of whatever fate has in store.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Such an outcome would resonate beyond the NLRB and MSPB, potentially making way for the political whims of the White House to have a greater effect on independent agencies across the federal government.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2025
Call us old fashioned, but such an order should require an act of Congress, not just at the whim of whoever is in the White House.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 18 Mar. 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 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whim
noun
ˈhwim 
ˈwim
: an odd or sudden wish, desire, or change of mind
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share