Word
accidentally
Phoneticsac·ci·den·tal·ly, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌæksəˈdɛnəɫi/
UK/ˌæksɪdˈɛntəli/
Adverb of manner
Definitions
01without meaning to
B1 · Intermediate
adv. by mistake or without planning it.
adv. unintentionally or by mistake; describes an action performed without deliberate purpose.
日本語:誤って※
“I accidentally deleted the email while I was trying to move it to a folder.”
“The witness accidentally revealed the location of the safe house during the cross-examination, much to the frustration of the legal team.”
Usage
Usually placed before the main verb or at the end of a clause.
Pitfall
I accidently broke the glass.
I accidentally broke the glass.
A common spelling mistake is to forget the 'al' in the middle. Remember: accident + al + ly.
Antonyms
02by chance
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. happening by luck or chance rather than being planned.
adv. occurring by chance or unexpected coincidence rather than design.
日本語:偶然※
“We met accidentally at the train station after not seeing each other for years.”
“The researchers accidentally discovered the new compound while they were investigating a completely unrelated chemical reaction.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “accidentally” in context.
Verb
01. accidentally bump into
“I accidentally bumped into an old friend while I was walking through the park.”
verb + prep + noun
02. accidentally delete
“I accidentally deleted the entire folder while trying to rename it.”
adv + verb
03. accidentally discover
“Scientists accidentally discovered the new compound while researching something else.”
adv + verb
04. accidentally leave
“She accidentally left her keys in the ignition when she went into the shop.”
adv + verb
05. accidentally overhear
“He accidentally overheard his colleagues discussing the secret project in the breakroom.”
adv + verb
06. accidentally spill
“The waiter accidentally spilled coffee on the customer's white shirt.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Most fires are started by humans, whether deliberately or accidentally, but this summer's hot and dry weather has created ideal conditions for blazes.” “The concept centers on the idea of accidentally slipping out of normal reality and becoming trapped in this monotonous, labyrinthine environment with no clear exit.” “Peer review became universal almost accidentally, as a way to solve a branding problem.” Etymology
From accidental + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/accidentally
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0