at random

Idioms  

1. Without order or fixed purpose, haphazardly, as in Jackson Pollock dropped paints on canvas seemingly at random. Originally this phrase meant “very speedily” and “heedlessly.” Shakespeare had the present usage in 1 Henry VI (5:3): “He talks at random; sure the man is mad.” [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

He and his team selected 50 stocks at random from the 500 largest companies by market capitalization each month since 1999, assigning them equal starting weights.

From Barron's

Wolf kills aren't distributed at random, Loretto said, occurring more often on flatter terrain or in open valleys where chases are more likely.

From Barron's

In these "RCTs," participants are assigned at random to different groups.

From Science Daily

An aide flashed the overhead lights on and off at random.

From Los Angeles Times

He pulled a book off a nonfiction shelf at random—it was something about tax codes.

From Literature

Related Words

• aimlessly
• frantically
• indiscriminately
• instinctively
• madly
• wildly