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

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said the brokerage in years past had to plead with issuers to set aside stock for the company’s IPO Access program, which distributes allocated retail shares at random to interested customers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Apparently at random, Evans broke into a Jeep Wagoneer rented by a choreographer and dancer for Beyoncé on 8 July 2025, as the singer's Cowboy Carter tour was coming to Atlanta.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

"In the face of huge linguistic diversity, it is intriguing to find that languages don't evolve at random," says Verkerk.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

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 • Mar. 12, 2026

I didn’t think it would matter which copy of his hometown I went to, so I selected one at random, near the equator.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

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