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 • Mar. 26, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

But knocking on doors at random to inspect immigration status could, according to Saldaña, be considered harassment and improper conduct.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

A new study published in Nature Aging shows that these changes follow a clear pattern rather than appearing at random.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2026

I asked, picking a northern town at random.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

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