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accidentally

/ˌæksɪˈdɛntəli/
/æksɪˈdɛntəli/
IPA guide

If something happens accidentally, it didn't happen on purpose — blame it on a mistake, chance, or outside forces.

There are things you mean to do, like brushing your hair or buttoning your shirt. Then there are things you do accidentally: you didn't mean for them to happen, but they happened anyway. Just about all spilled milk happens accidentally. If a surgeon leaves a scalpel in a patient, let's hope he did it accidentally. And if a football bounces off a defender into the running back's arms and he scores a touchdown, he made a great play — accidentally.

Definitions of accidentally
  1. adverb
    without intention; in an unintentional manner
    synonyms: unintentionally
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    deliberately
    with intention; in an intentional manner
  2. adverb
    without advance planning
    “they met accidentally
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    deliberately
    with intention; in an intentional manner
  3. adverb
    of a minor or subordinate nature
    synonyms: incidentally
Pronunciation
US
/ˌæksɪˈdɛntəli/
UK
/æksɪˈdɛntəli/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘accidentally'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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