at random

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]

Example Sentences

Unlike at Home Depot, where knives are with knives and bolts are with bolts, almost all the inventory here is stored on shelves scattered throughout the dark zones completely at random.

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He first encountered molecular structures at 10 years old, when he sneaked into the school library, picked a book at random, and was captivated by the images, despite not understanding what they were.

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If you were to grab a section of the grounds at random, odds are you would be pulling up a chunk of hot asphalt or stiff-bladed grass.

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Some detainees were arrested at random and taken to large detention centres, the group alleged.

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This makes me suspect that he didn’t choose the desk’s previous owner at random.

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Related Words

• aimlessly 
• frantically 
• indiscriminately 
• instinctively 
• madly 
• wildly www.thesaurus.com