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Definition of whim

whim

/ˈwɪm/
whim
Adverb:whimsically
•
Plural:whims
•
Adjective:whimsical
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whim Lexical Profile

whim Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual, impulsive, or unexplained.

Example

"We booked our trip to the coast on a whim and left the very next morning."

2

A large capstan or windlass with a vertical axis, historically turned by horses or steam power to raise ore or water from a mine.

Example

"The old stone platform beside the shaft once supported a horse-drawn whim used by nineteenth-century tin miners."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for whim

• Nearby Words

whiffy
whig
while
whim
whimbrel
whimper
whimsical

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 17th century as a shortened form of the earlier reduplicative phrase 'whim-wham' (meaning a trinket or fanciful notion), probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse 'hvima', meaning 'to wander with the eyes'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Whim. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/whim
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