at random

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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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at peace, at present, atrabilious, atracurium besylate, Atrahasis, at random, atraumatic suture, atrazine, Atrek, atremble, atresia

How to use at random in a sentence

Reprinted by arrangement with The Penguin Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But by Wednesday evening there was little in the way of organized protests or random unrest in the area.
St. Louis Shooting Is the Anti-Ferguson|Justin Glawe|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He did not shout “God is great,” but his random act served the purposes of ISIS almost as well.
France’s Wave of Crazy-Terror Christmas Attacks|Christopher Dickey|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I spoke first with Scott Ellman, a student at Wesleyan University and now the Huffington Post editor-at-large for his campus.
Fraternities in a Post-UVA World|Samantha Allen|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Random House is also covering the legal fees of an innocent man called Barry who was caught up in the storm.
The Right's Rape Trolls vs. Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tressan was monstrous ill-at-ease, and his face lost a good deal of its habitual plethora of colour.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
A fellow rudely clad—a hybrid between man-at-arms and lackey—lounged on a musket to confront them in the gateway.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Firing a random volley, those that lived turned and fled, pursued by the scouts.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
The blows stung, and Black Sheep struck back at random with all the power at his command.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
And the Seneschal, moved by that confident promise of evil, threw himself before the men-at-arms.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

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