caprice
gb/kəpɹˈis/ us/kəpɹˈis/
C1
English
~ 8600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
event
1
sudden change in mood or behavior
A sudden change in how someone feels or acts, without a clear reason.
Usage pattern:
the caprices of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse “caprice” with the adjective “capricious.” “Caprice” is the noun (a caprice), while “capricious” describes a person or thing (a capricious boss, capricious weather). Another mistake is thinking it means only a simple “wish”; it also implies unpredictability and lack of reason.
Synonyms
whim (More common and less formal; can sound lighter or less critical than “caprice.”)
|
impulse (Suggests a sudden feeling that makes you act, but not always as unpredictable or irrational as “caprice.”)
|
vagary (Formal and slightly old-fashioned; often used for odd or unpredictable changes in things like weather or fortune.)
Antonyms
consistency (Suggests stable, regular behavior without sudden changes.)
|
steadiness (Emphasizes reliable, calm behavior, the opposite of sudden shifts.)
Collocations
the caprices of
|sudden caprice
|pure caprice
|personal caprices
|whim and caprice
|subject to the caprices of
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The project’s success depended on the caprices of a notoriously moody investor.
- She had learned to live with the artistic director’s caprices and last‑minute demands.
- The staff were exhausted by the CEO’s caprices, which could change company policy overnight.
- Parents often feel powerless in the face of their teenager’s emotional caprices.
- Farmers’ incomes rise and fall with the caprices of the weather.
Learner examples
- The team was tired of their boss’s caprices.
- Her friends never knew how to deal with her emotional caprices.
- Our plans changed because of his caprices.
- Workers worry about the caprices of top managers.
- Life in that house depended on the father’s caprices.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
2
unreasonable whim that drives decisions
A sudden wish that is not fair or logical, but still decides what someone does.
Usage pattern:
[someone] acts on a caprice
Common mistake:
Learners may use “caprice” when “choice” or “decision” is better. “Caprice” suggests the reason for the decision is only a sudden, personal wish, not logic or rules. If a decision is normal or carefully thought out, do not call it a caprice.
Synonyms
whim (More general and common; does not always carry the strong sense of unfairness or irrational authority that “caprice” can have.)
|
arbitrariness (Stresses lack of any rule or reason; more abstract and often used in legal or political contexts.)
Antonyms
fairness (Decisions based on justice and reason rather than personal, sudden wishes.)
|
principle (A stable rule that guides actions, opposite of acting from a passing caprice.)
Collocations
mere caprice
|act on a caprice
|the caprice of a ruler
|legal by caprice
|at the caprice of
|subject to the caprice of
Themes
behavior
|society
|work
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Tenants lived at the caprice of a landlord who could raise the rent whenever he felt like it.
- Under the dictatorship, people’s lives were controlled by the caprice of those in power.
- The policy seems to change every year according to the caprice of whichever minister is in office.
- Artists complained that awards were given more by caprice than by merit.
- Citizens feared that their property could be taken away on the mere caprice of an official.
Learner examples
- The workers were tired of the manager’s caprice.
- Laws should not change because of one leader’s caprice.
- Her future depended on the caprice of a rich sponsor.
- Students felt marks were set by the teacher’s caprice, not by clear rules.
- We do not want our lives to follow one person’s caprice.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
lively, free-form musical piece
A fast, showy piece of classical music, often for one instrument, with a free and playful style.
Usage pattern:
a caprice for [instrument]
Synonyms
capriccio (The Italian form more often used in formal musical titles; meaning is essentially the same as this sense of “caprice.”)
|
showpiece (Informal; emphasizes technical display, without the specific stylistic idea of a caprice.)
Antonyms
etude (Not a true antonym in meaning, but often contrasts with a caprice by focusing on systematic technical study rather than free, playful character.)
Collocations
violin caprice
|solo caprice
|a caprice for violin
|Romantic caprice
|virtuosic caprice
Themes
music
|art
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She performed a dazzling violin caprice by Paganini as her encore.
- The composer wrote a brief caprice for solo flute to open the concert.
- His new album includes a modern guitar caprice inspired by folk melodies.
Learner examples
- He practiced a difficult caprice on the violin.
- The concert started with a short piano caprice.
- She wrote a caprice for solo cello.
- The caprice was fast and playful.
- This caprice shows the player’s great skill.
Grammar
Dictionary form
caprice
IPA
GB/kəpɹˈis/
US/kəpɹˈis/
Syllables & stress
caprice (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: caprice
- Plural: caprice, caprices
Word family
Forms
caprices
noun
Core family
capricious
adjective C1
Related words
capriciously
adverb
Advanced or less common
capriciousness
noun
Expressions
at the caprice of [someone/something]
1/ˈæt ðə kəpɹˈis əv sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
under someone’s unpredictable control
Used to say that a person or thing is controlled by another person’s sudden, often unfair wishes or decisions.
Examples
- Seasonal workers live at the caprice of employers who can end their contracts without warning.
- The region’s economy is at the caprice of global markets.
- Citizens should not be at the caprice of a single powerful leader.
the caprices of fate
1/ðə kəpɹˈisɪz əv fˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
literary
unpredictable changes controlled by fate
Used to talk about how life changes in ways we cannot control or explain, as if some power called fate suddenly decides things.
Examples
- Their meeting was one of those moments that people later blame on the caprices of fate.
- The novel follows a family through the caprices of fate, from sudden wealth to unexpected loss.
- History is shaped not only by plans, but also by the caprices of fate.
the caprices of the weather
1/ðə kəpɹˈisɪz əv ðə wˈɛðɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
unpredictable changes in the weather
Used to talk about how the weather changes suddenly and in ways we cannot control or clearly predict.
Examples
- Farmers here are used to the caprices of the weather.
- The festival, held outdoors, is always at the mercy of the caprices of the weather.
- Ski resorts depend on the caprices of the weather for a good season.