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noun

whim

wihm
noun
1
A sudden, playful, or impulsive idea or desire, with little or no real reason behind it.
"On a whim, they booked flights to Lisbon for the weekend."
"He bought the guitar on a whim and never learned to play it."

How to Use Whim

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sudden urge to do something, usually without much planning or serious reason.

Common pairings
on a whim a passing whim act on a whim

Word Forms

whimmed past tense, whims plural, whims plural, whims singular

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On a _____, they booked flights to Lisbon for the weekend.

Etymology

A shortened form of the older word whim-wham, itself of uncertain origin, likely echoing the playful, erratic feel of the idea it describes.

Related Words

Rhymes for whim

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial