accidentally
word · lemma: accidental
/ˌæksəˈdɛnəɫi/
ak-si-DEN-tuh-lee
/ˌæksɪdˈɛntəli/
ak-si-DEN-tuh-lee
Definition
In a way that happens by mistake and not because someone planned or intended it. It describes actions or events that are not deliberate.
Usage & Nuances
Usually modifies verbs: 'accidentally break', 'accidentally send', 'accidentally delete'. Very common in apologies and explanations. 'By accident' is a common alternative; 'on accident' is informal and mainly used in some varieties of English.
Spanish: accidentalmente - sin quererPortuguese (BR): acidentalmente - sem quererPortuguese (PT): acidentalmente - sem quererChinese (Simplified): 意外地 - 不小心地Chinese (Traditional): 意外地 - 不小心地Hindi: गलती से - अनजाने मेंArabic: عن طريق الخطأ - بالخطأBengali: অবশ্যই ভুলবশত - অনিচ্ছাকৃতভাবেRussian: случайноJapanese: うっかり - 偶然に - 誤ってVietnamese: tình cờ - vô tình - lỡKorean: 실수로 - 우연히Turkish: kazara - yanlışlıklaUrdu: غلطی سے - اتفاقاًIndonesian: vô tình - tình cờ - nhầm lẫn
Example Sentences
I accidentally broke the glass.
basic
She accidentally took my pen.
basic
We accidentally went to the wrong room.
basic
I accidentally sent that message to my boss instead of my friend.
natural
Sorry, I accidentally deleted the file you needed.
natural
He accidentally liked a photo from three years ago, and now he's embarrassed.
natural