accidentally
Americanadverb
-
by chance or mistake; in a way that is not planned or intended.
If you break your key, whether accidentally or on purpose, there is a $40 charge to replace it.
-
in a nonessential or subsidiary way; incidentally.
Philosophy is essentially a vocation, and only accidentally a profession.
Usage
Spelling tips for accidentally The word accidentally is hard to spell because it can be hard to remember which letters are doubled and which are not. To add to the confusion, there are two possible spellings of accidentally. While less common, accidently is also an acceptable spelling of the word.How to spell accidentally: It's no accident that many animals have two eyes to see (C) And two ears to Listen (L). This reminds you that the letters c and l are doubled in accidentally, with an a in between.
Other Word Forms
- nonaccidentally adverb
- preaccidentally adverb
- pseudoaccidentally adverb
- quasi-accidentally adverb
- unaccidentally adverb
Etymology
Origin of accidentally
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A supermarket in Orkney has given away about 38,000 bananas - almost double the entire population of the islands - in just three days after accidentally ordering them.
From BBC
She was walking alone, just like the morning Chitto had almost accidentally run her over with his truck.
From Literature
A supermarket in Orkney has been giving away bananas after accidentally ordering an estimated 38,000 of them - almost double the entire population of the islands.
From BBC
Experts believe it's a young male that may have accidentally wandered into shallow waters.
From BBC
The title of McCartney's new album was accidentally confirmed on social media by his brother Mike on Wednesday - after his son spotted posters being put up around Liverpool.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
