accidentally
ak-sih-DEHNT-lee
Accidentally (adv) means By chance or mistake, without intending to. Example: “She accidentally left her umbrella on the train this morning.”
adv
1
By chance or mistake, without intending to.
"She accidentally left her umbrella on the train this morning."
"The two old friends met accidentally in a bookshop on a rainy afternoon."
"I accidentally deleted the file before saving it."
How to use accidentally
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWithout meaning to — by mistake.
Common mistake
The standard spelling is "accidentally," not "accidently" — the misspelling is common but considered incorrect in standard English.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more accidentally
- Superlative
- most accidentally
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ left her umbrella on the train this morning.
Etymology
From accidental plus the adverb suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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unintentionally
inadvertently
mistakenly
unwittingly
unknowingly
haphazardly
circumstantially
adventitiously
by accident
by chance
fortuitously
on accident
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for accidentally
See all rhymes for accidentally →Frequently asked questions
What does “accidentally” mean?
The word “accidentally” means by chance or mistake, without intending to. In plain terms, without meaning to — by mistake.
How do you pronounce “accidentally”?
“Accidentally” is pronounced ak-sih-DEHNT-lee (/ˌæk.sɪˈdɛnt(ə)li/ in IPA).
How do you use “accidentally” in a sentence?
Here is “accidentally” used in a sentence: “I accidentally deleted the file before saving it.”
What is another word for “accidentally”?
Words with a similar meaning to “accidentally” include adventitiously, by accident, by chance, fortuitously and on accident.
What is the opposite of “accidentally”?
The opposite of “accidentally” — its antonyms — are intentionally, deliberately, designedly, on purpose and purposely.
What part of speech is “accidentally”?
“Accidentally” is an adverb.
Is “accidentally” a common word?
“Accidentally” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
Is it spelled "accidentally" or "accidentaly"?
The correct spelling is "accidentally," with a double l. It is formed from the adjective "accidental" plus the suffix "-ly," so both l's are kept.
What is the difference between "accidentally" and "deliberately"?
They are opposites. "Accidentally" means something happened by chance or mistake without intention, while "deliberately" means it was done on purpose. "I accidentally deleted the file" implies no intent.
What is the difference between "accidentally" and "unintentionally"?
Both mean without intending to, but "accidentally" often points to a specific chance mishap, while "unintentionally" simply stresses the lack of intention behind an action or its effect. They are frequently interchangeable.
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