whim
gb/wˈɪm/ us/wˈɪm/
B2
English
~ 9300
hirtelen ötlet, szeszély
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] does [something] on a whim
They decided to drive to the coast on a whim.
Egy hirtelen ötlettől vezérelve úgy döntöttek, hogy leautóznak a tengerpartra.
On a whim, she quit her job and moved abroad.
Egy hirtelen ötlettől vezérelve felmondott, és külföldre költözött.
He bought the expensive watch on a whim and later regretted it.
It started as a whim, but his weekend painting hobby turned into a full-time career.
Learner examples
I cut my hair short on a whim.
Egy hirtelen ötlettől vezérelve rövidre vágattam a hajam.
She bought the dress on a whim, without thinking.
Gondolkodás nélkül, hirtelen ötletből megvette a ruhát.
We went to the small town on a whim and loved it.
He joined the class on a whim, just to try something new.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *whim* like *wish* or *dream* for long-held desires (e.g., "My whim is to be a doctor"). *Whim* is only for short, sudden ideas or desires, usually not very serious. Also, the fixed phrase is "on a whim," not "in a whim" or "with a whim."
Meaning
sudden, unplanned desire or idea
Collocations
on a whim
|sudden whim
|passing whim
|idle whim
|act on a whim
Synonyms
impulse (Stresses the sudden feeling that makes you act, slightly more formal and common in psychological or careful descriptions.)
|
fancy (Often used in British English; can sound a bit lighter or more playful than “whim.”)
Antonyms
plan (A plan is something you decide carefully in advance, which is the opposite of doing something on a sudden whim.)
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A quick, sudden idea or wish to do something, without planning or thinking a lot about it.
A sudden desire or idea to do something, especially when it is not planned or thought about carefully.
NOUN
C1
2
szeszély
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is at the whim of [someone/something]
Seasonal workers live at the whim of the tourism industry.
Az idénymunkások a turisztikai ágazat szeszélyeinek vannak kitéve.
Under the old system, employees’ hours changed at the whim of their manager.
A régi rendszerben az alkalmazottak munkaideje a vezetőjük szeszélye szerint változott.
The tiny village is at the whims of the weather, which can destroy a year’s crops overnight.
Citizens feared that their property could be taken at the mere whim of those in power.
Learner examples
The staff felt they were at the whim of the boss.
A dolgozók úgy érezték, ki vannak szolgáltatva a főnök szeszélyeinek.
Their pay went up and down with the whims of the market.
A fizetésük a piac szeszélyeitől függően hol emelkedett, hol csökkent.
Prisoners were punished at the whim of the guards.
Small shops must follow the changing whims of customers.
Common mistake:
Learners may translate directly from languages where a similar word means only "desire" and miss the idea of power and unfair control. In this sense, *whim* usually appears in phrases like "at the whim of" or "the whims of" something that has power, such as a boss, market, or government.
Meaning
unpredictable, changeable decision or will
Collocations
the whims of
|at the whim of
|subject to the whims of
|changing whims
|whims and fancies
Synonyms
caprice (More formal and literary; often used to describe unpredictable or selfish changes in mood or decisions.)
|
whimsy (Often suggests playful or odd behavior; can sound lighter or more charming than “whim” in serious contexts.)
Antonyms
fairness (Fairness suggests stable, reasonable treatment, the opposite of decisions made according to someone's shifting whims.)
Themes
society
|power
|behavior
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An unpredictable and often unfair personal wish or decision that decides what happens to other people or things.
A changeable or unpredictable personal desire or decision that affects how someone treats others or controls a situation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
whim
IPA
GB/wˈɪm/
US/wˈɪm/
Syllables & stress
whim (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (whim)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: whim
- Plural: whims
Word family
Expressions
at the whim of
1/ˈæt ðə wˈɪm əv/
fixed phrase
controlled by unpredictable decisions
Controlled by the changeable and not very fair wishes or decisions of someone or something.
Examples
- Freelancers often feel they are at the whim of their clients.
- The farmers’ income is at the whim of the weather each year.
on a whim
1/ˈɔn ə wˈɪm/
fixed phrase
because of a sudden impulse
Because of a quick, sudden idea or wish, without planning or thinking a lot first.
Examples
- He moved to the city on a whim and found a great job there.
- They went into the small café on a whim and discovered their new favorite place.
subject to the whims of
1/sˈʌbd͡ʒɪkt tə ðə wˈɪmz əv/
fixed phrase
affected by changing whims
Easily affected or controlled by someone or something that changes its wishes or decisions often.
Examples
- Small island nations are subject to the whims of powerful trading partners.
- In this job, your schedule is subject to the whims of last-minute client requests.
the whims of fate
1/ðə wˈɪmz əv fˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
literary
unpredictable turns of fate
Unpredictable, random things that happen in life, as if some power called fate was changing its mind.
Examples
- Their meeting seemed to be the result of the whims of fate.
- The film shows how success can depend on the whims of fate as much as on hard work.