by design

Idioms  

1. On purpose, deliberately, as in Whether by luck or by design, his application was accepted. This term, originally put as on design, uses design in the sense of “plan.” [First half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by design

This is by design, as our progressive tax system has rungs with a top and a bottom, and different inputs — like the standard deduction — that affect how much tax people pay.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

In another landmark case, a Los Angeles jury in March found that Instagram and YouTube were responsible for the suffering of a Chico, Calif., woman who charged the platforms were addictive by design.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

That’s partly by design, since succeeding as a paper son meant living a life of concealment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

"In some cases, the satellite photos clearly show that fire starts inside, but we cannot say whether it's by design or whether it's accidental," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

In any case, shortly after Ruess carved his mark into the sandstone, he departed Davis Gulch and mysteriously disappeared, apparently by design.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

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Related Words

• consciously
• knowingly
• pointedly
• purposely
• studiously
• voluntarily
• willfully

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