Whim
noun
A sudden strong wish to do something without thinking about it carefully.
I bought this hat on a whim, it was not planned
Often appears as...
- on a whim
- whims and fancies
noun
A type of machine for lifting in mining.
The whim was used to hoist coal from the mine
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind.
He had a whimsical nature, and his ideas were often mere whims
noun
A sudden strong wish to do something without thinking about it carefully.
I bought this hat on a whim, it was not planned
Often appears as...
- on a whim
- whims and fancies
noun
A type of machine for lifting in mining.
The whim was used to hoist coal from the mine
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind.
He had a whimsical nature, and his ideas were often mere whims
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Spontaneous Action
Refers to an action taken without planning or forethought, often on impulse.
She quit her job on a whim, surprising everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotionally Driven
Indicates an action or decision guided more by emotions than logic.
On a whim, he booked a flight to see his best friend.
Pro Tip 3/3Unpredictable Behavior
Suggests a person's behavior cannot be predicted because of sudden desires.
She redecorated her room on a whim.
Pro Tip 1/3Spontaneous Action
Refers to an action taken without planning or forethought, often on impulse.
She quit her job on a whim, surprising everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotionally Driven
Indicates an action or decision guided more by emotions than logic.
On a whim, he booked a flight to see his best friend.
Pro Tip 3/3Unpredictable Behavior
Suggests a person's behavior cannot be predicted because of sudden desires.
She redecorated her room on a whim.
Pro Tip 1/3Spontaneous Action
Refers to an action taken without planning or forethought, often on impulse.
She quit her job on a whim, surprising everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotionally Driven
Indicates an action or decision guided more by emotions than logic.
On a whim, he booked a flight to see his best friend.
Pro Tip 3/3Unpredictable Behavior
Suggests a person's behavior cannot be predicted because of sudden desires.
She redecorated her room on a whim.
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Video examples
How to raise a Black son...
That the whims of adolescence are too dangerous for your breath, that you cannot simply be curious, that you are not afforded the luxury of making a mistake, that someone's implicit bias might be the reason you don't wake up in the morning. But this cannot be what defines us. Because we have parents who raised us to understand
Video examples
Can love and independence...
Throughout her life, Janie frequently feels she’s at the whim of natural and spiritual forces that can shift the course of her existence without warning. And when she finally does find true love, these unknowable powers continue to act on her, threatening to destroy the life she's so painstakingly built.
Video examples
Inside the massive (and...
But that means recognizing that technology that tracks who we are, what we do, what we say, and even in some cases, what we think, is a form of advanced weaponry. And these weapons are growing too powerful, available to the highest bidder, and according to the whims of the spy bazaar.
Video examples
Erika Pinheiro: What's...
but including economic migrants and climate refugees. We need to demand that refugees get a fair shot at seeking protection in our countries by ensuring that they have access to council and by creating independent courts that are not subject to the political whims of the president.
Video examples
Your kids might live on...
We are incredibly vulnerable to the whims of our own galaxy. A single, large asteroid could take us out forever. To survive we have to reach beyond the home planet. Think what a tragedy it would be if all that humans have accomplished were suddenly obliterated.
Video examples
5 tips for dealing with...
As a recovering corporate executive, I know we all feel like our time isn’t our own, like other people are controlling our calendars and we’re simply reacting to their whims. But calendar creep isn’t inevitable. There's so much in the world we can't control.
Video examples
Storytelling can be...
pernicious she what she's doing is instead of helping real victims she's got the police force looking for her she's the center of attention actual lives are at stake and here they are catering to her whims and I think that that is what
Video examples
Mystery of the Romanovs...
had expanded his sphere of influence to include the courts of Europe in st. Petersburg the Tsar and his family lived in a breathtaking palace with a thousand rooms hundreds of servants attended their every whim and it seemed like a
Video examples
Noy Thrupkaew: Human...
who are also subject to the whims of law enforcement if they're caught. Law enforcement is supposed to identify victims and prosecute traffickers. But out of an estimated 21 million victims of human trafficking in the world,
Video examples
I don't want children --...
Because I needed the doctor to know that this was not a whim, not reactionary, not your 20-something looking to go out and party without fear of getting knocked up that this supported something integral to who I was.
Video examples
How to raise a Black son...
That the whims of adolescence are too dangerous for your breath, that you cannot simply be curious, that you are not afforded the luxury of making a mistake, that someone's implicit bias might be the reason you don't wake up in the morning. But this cannot be what defines us. Because we have parents who raised us to understand
Video examples
Can love and independence...
Throughout her life, Janie frequently feels she’s at the whim of natural and spiritual forces that can shift the course of her existence without warning. And when she finally does find true love, these unknowable powers continue to act on her, threatening to destroy the life she's so painstakingly built.
Video examples
Inside the massive (and...
But that means recognizing that technology that tracks who we are, what we do, what we say, and even in some cases, what we think, is a form of advanced weaponry. And these weapons are growing too powerful, available to the highest bidder, and according to the whims of the spy bazaar.
Video examples
Erika Pinheiro: What's...
but including economic migrants and climate refugees. We need to demand that refugees get a fair shot at seeking protection in our countries by ensuring that they have access to council and by creating independent courts that are not subject to the political whims of the president.
Video examples
Your kids might live on...
We are incredibly vulnerable to the whims of our own galaxy. A single, large asteroid could take us out forever. To survive we have to reach beyond the home planet. Think what a tragedy it would be if all that humans have accomplished were suddenly obliterated.
Video examples
5 tips for dealing with...
As a recovering corporate executive, I know we all feel like our time isn’t our own, like other people are controlling our calendars and we’re simply reacting to their whims. But calendar creep isn’t inevitable. There's so much in the world we can't control.
Video examples
Storytelling can be...
pernicious she what she's doing is instead of helping real victims she's got the police force looking for her she's the center of attention actual lives are at stake and here they are catering to her whims and I think that that is what
Video examples
Mystery of the Romanovs...
had expanded his sphere of influence to include the courts of Europe in st. Petersburg the Tsar and his family lived in a breathtaking palace with a thousand rooms hundreds of servants attended their every whim and it seemed like a
Video examples
Noy Thrupkaew: Human...
who are also subject to the whims of law enforcement if they're caught. Law enforcement is supposed to identify victims and prosecute traffickers. But out of an estimated 21 million victims of human trafficking in the world,
Video examples
I don't want children --...
Because I needed the doctor to know that this was not a whim, not reactionary, not your 20-something looking to go out and party without fear of getting knocked up that this supported something integral to who I was.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ving Rhames
American Actor
Quite honestly I never had a desire to be an actor. I tell people, I did not choose acting; acting chose me. I never grew up wanting to be an actor. I wanted to play football. In about 9th grade an English teacher told me I had a talent to act. He said I should audition for a performing arts high school so I did on a whim. I got accepted.
Quote examples
Jack Monroe
British Journalist
Gas prices and train fares seem to be the two commodities for modern British life that base their prices on a whim, or numbers plucked out of thin air, without a thought to the real cost to those for whom those price hikes mean unimaginable sacrifices in their day to day lives.
Quote examples
Sally Rooney
Irish Author
I think it's best for me to kind of just plough on doing whatever interests me, just following my own whims, because otherwise, I would think, 'Oh well, I have to write something now that really represents my generation or that really represents young Irish people.
Quote examples
Geoffrey Boycott
British Athlete
I always loved the Yorkshire members and was passionate about playing for the county, but the people who were running the club made it at times unbearable for me. The rulers had a history of doing what they wanted and sacking players seemingly on a whim.
Quote examples
Thomas Merton
American Author
I cannot make the universe obey me. I cannot make other people conform to my own whims and fancies. I cannot make even my own body obey me.
Quote examples
Farhan Akhtar
Indian Director
I think it is important to time yourself to make the right choices. It's not responsible to go ahead and say a 'yes' or 'no' on a whim.
Quote examples
bell hooks
American Critic
I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance.
Quote examples
Asif Ali Zardari
Pakistani Politician
As a child, I was spoilt by my parents as an only son. They indulged my every whim, and I grew up in luxury.
Quote examples
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis
British Politician
Having achieved something so special as peace, it is criminal to throw it away on a whim.
Quote examples
Lance Reddick
American Actor
I started acting almost on a whim to help my music career.
Quote examples
Ving Rhames
American Actor
Quite honestly I never had a desire to be an actor. I tell people, I did not choose acting; acting chose me. I never grew up wanting to be an actor. I wanted to play football. In about 9th grade an English teacher told me I had a talent to act. He said I should audition for a performing arts high school so I did on a whim. I got accepted.
Quote examples
Jack Monroe
British Journalist
Gas prices and train fares seem to be the two commodities for modern British life that base their prices on a whim, or numbers plucked out of thin air, without a thought to the real cost to those for whom those price hikes mean unimaginable sacrifices in their day to day lives.
Quote examples
Sally Rooney
Irish Author
I think it's best for me to kind of just plough on doing whatever interests me, just following my own whims, because otherwise, I would think, 'Oh well, I have to write something now that really represents my generation or that really represents young Irish people.
Quote examples
Geoffrey Boycott
British Athlete
I always loved the Yorkshire members and was passionate about playing for the county, but the people who were running the club made it at times unbearable for me. The rulers had a history of doing what they wanted and sacking players seemingly on a whim.
Quote examples
Thomas Merton
American Author
I cannot make the universe obey me. I cannot make other people conform to my own whims and fancies. I cannot make even my own body obey me.
Quote examples
Farhan Akhtar
Indian Director
I think it is important to time yourself to make the right choices. It's not responsible to go ahead and say a 'yes' or 'no' on a whim.
Quote examples
bell hooks
American Critic
I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance.
Quote examples
Asif Ali Zardari
Pakistani Politician
As a child, I was spoilt by my parents as an only son. They indulged my every whim, and I grew up in luxury.
Quote examples
Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis
British Politician
Having achieved something so special as peace, it is criminal to throw it away on a whim.
Quote examples
Lance Reddick
American Actor
I started acting almost on a whim to help my music career.
Example 1 of 10
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