whim
gb/wˈɪm/ us/wˈɪm/
B2
English
~ 9300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
sudden, unplanned desire or idea
A quick, sudden idea or wish to do something, without planning or thinking a lot about it.
Usage pattern:
[someone] does [something] on a whim
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."
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.)
Collocations
on a whim
|sudden whim
|passing whim
|idle whim
|act on a whim
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They decided to drive to the coast on a whim.
- On a whim, she quit her job and moved abroad.
- 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.
- She bought the dress on a whim, without thinking.
- We went to the small town on a whim and loved it.
- He joined the class on a whim, just to try something new.
Noun
C1
property
2
unpredictable, changeable decision or will
An unpredictable and often unfair personal wish or decision that decides what happens to other people or things.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is at the whim of [someone/something]
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.
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.)
Collocations
the whims of
|at the whim of
|subject to the whims of
|changing whims
|whims and fancies
Themes
society
|power
|behavior
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Seasonal workers live at the whim of the tourism industry.
- Under the old system, employees’ hours changed at the whim of their manager.
- 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.
- Their pay went up and down with the whims of the market.
- Prisoners were punished at the whim of the guards.
- Small shops must follow the changing whims of customers.
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.