How to Use on a whim in a Sentence

on a whim

idiom
Definition of on a whimnext
  • Bend a rule, act on a whim, test something new in a bid for gain.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The bag can shift from a backpack to a tote should your needs happen to change on a whim.
    — Hannah Selinger, wsj.com, 1 Oct. 2023
  • That may prove beneficial to those who book a trip to the Paris Olympics on a whim.
    — Solcyré Burga, TIME, 10 July 2024
  • Biden has come in before on a whim, unannounced, ABC News was told.
    — Maryalice Parks, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2023
  • Then one day, on a whim, popular deejay Ralph Emery flipped the vinyl and played the Rocky Top side.
    — Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2024
  • Again, to be clear, there’s no basis in this notion that Texas could ditch its ties to the United States on a whim.
    — TIME, 1 Feb. 2024
  • Users of Meta products are accustomed to the apps being tweaked on a whim.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2024
  • Mikael Lundblad Lind bought the barn on a whim while driving around the countryside.
    — Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2024
  • Brooks Keebey, of Salem, bought $10 worth of Powerball tickets on a whim.
    — oregonlive, 16 Nov. 2022
  • The two decide to throw caution to the wind and get married on a whim, leading to a whirlwind of emotions.
    — Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023
  • Most people aren’t going to go out and drop a sizable chunk of change on a thermal scope on a whim.
    — Amanda Oliver, Field & Stream, 21 Mar. 2024
  • As for the name Jasper, Brad admitted that it was decided more on a whim.
    — Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023
  • Many have bought headphones or music downloads, gas to drive places on a whim or, like Lee, fast food.
    — Patrick O'Donnell, The Indianapolis Star, 9 May 2023
  • But reading the pilot, Culkin felt drawn to Roman and submitted tapes for that part on a whim.
    — Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024
  • Set clear limits Our limits should not waiver on a whim.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
  • During their interview, on a whim, Prince asks Als to write a book with him; Als demurs.
    — Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2022
  • After high school, Isaac auditioned for Juilliard on a whim and got in.
    — Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Oct. 2022
  • This way, people who are simply walking by can decide to take part on a whim.
    — Nicole Kagan, BostonGlobe.com, 27 June 2023
  • The tenant signed the contract, only to leave the property a few months later out of fear that the agency could evict him again on a whim.
    — Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
  • The two decided to drive out from Thousands Oaks on a whim earlier that day.
    — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2023
  • The two decided to drive out from Thousands Oaks on a whim earlier that day.
    — Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2023
  • And many of them were nice enough to, on a whim, crash a high school prom becoming the main players in a legendary night at Eastern Greene High.
    — Indystar Sports, The Indianapolis Star, 8 June 2023
  • Matthew, enviably at home in his skin, works in private equity and can fly to Paris on a whim.
    — Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Apr. 2024
  • Abortions that late in pregnancy are not allowed on a whim.
    — Politifact Staff Writer, Dallas News, 11 May 2023
  • Kagi The prospect of paying for a search engine might seem odd if you’re used to unlimited Googling on a whim.
    — Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2023
  • Customers being able to pick up a pie on a whim is new for Pizza Hut, but not the pizza industry.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024
  • The head coach will also change up the situation on a whim, at times, testing focus.
    — Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024
  • Wanting to pick up a sport, Maiya started playing basketball two years ago on a whim.
    — Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
  • Almost on a whim, Paul accepts, and small transgressions soon give way to larger ones.
    — The New Yorker, 12 June 2024
  • Los Alamos’ owner, Augustine Juarez, got into the restaurant business on a whim back in 2001.
    — Lisa Lopez, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on a whim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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