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

Twenty MPs are drawn at random, who then get a chance to propose a bill, with those drawn last given priority for debate.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

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

Because these changes can happen at random, even a single error can disrupt a calculation.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2026

At K1 Speed, all drivers compete in identical cars assigned at random, which puts the emphasis on driving skill.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

To cite a simple example, the probability that a person chosen at random from the phone book is over 250 pounds is quite small.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

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