WordGarden.io

whimsically

C2
Uncommon

Pronunciation

UK

    US

    • /ˈhwɪmzɪkli/

    Meanings

    Adverb

    1. in a playfully imaginative, quirky, or fanciful way

    2. on a whim or in a capricious, unpredictable way

    Beyond the definition

    To do something whimsically means to do it in a playful, light, and slightly unusual way. It often gives a feeling of charm, imagination, and gentle fun. A story might move whimsically, full of surprising little turns and colorful characters. A room might be decorated whimsically with bright lights and odd little objects. A musician might play whimsically, adding small, playful changes just for the joy of it.

    Examples

    1. 1

      Shop display

      The shop window was decorated whimsically, with paper birds hanging from the ceiling.

    2. 2

      Drawing

      She smiled and whimsically added a tiny crown to her doodle.

    3. 3

      Naming

      The owners had whimsically named the guesthouse "Moon and Toast."

    4. 4

      Playful comment

      "Maybe the train is just being dramatic," he said whimsically.

    More examples
    1. 5

      Story tone

      The novel begins whimsically, but the story grows darker later on.

    See also

    Similar

    Shades of meaning

    Contrast

    Used with (collocations)

    • whimsically decorated
    • whimsically illustrated
    • whimsically named

    Word family

    Explore

    Forms and spellings

    1 form open this card.

    Main spelling

    • whimsicallyadverb