accidentally

Study(1)

/ˌæk.sɪˈdɛnt(ə)li/

adv 2

Collocations

ADJ.

all, expensive, exposed, large, left, little, pregnant

VERB + ACCIDENTALLY

blew, discovered, farm, got, time, won't

ACCIDENTALLY + NOUN

bacteria, car, glass, sea, thumb, umbrella, wagonload

PREP.

in, off, on, through, up

ADV.

largely, once

Definitions

adv

In an accidental manner; by chance, unexpectedly.

He discovered penicillin largely accidentally.

Unintentionally.

He accidentally exposed the bacteria to mold spores.

As I arrived at the foot of the hill I overtook two ladies, whom I passed. As I did so, I brushed one of them accidently on the arm.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adverb — without advance planning

circumstantially
unexpectedly

adverb — without intention

unintentionally

adverb — of a minor or subordinate nature

incidentally

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

accidentally on purpose

Deliberately, though apparently accidentally.

However, having accidentally-on-purpose got hold of a piece of the fish, down it went; and, apparently thinking that under the circumstances he might do worse, he set to work with

Example Bank

He discovered penicillin largely accidentally.

Wiktionary

He accidentally exposed the bacteria to mold spores.

Wiktionary

As I arrived at the foot of the hill I overtook two ladies, whom I passed. As I did so, I brushed one of them accidently on the arm.

Wiktionary

Willie accidentally let off his father's shotgun and made a hole in the wall.

Tatoeba · #65689

A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of wheat on the road.

Tatoeba · #282298

He accidentally hit his thumb with the hammer.

Tatoeba · #294514

Usage Notes

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