Meaning & use
accidentally
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Meaning
adverbnot comparable
By mistake or by chance, without anyone meaning for it to happen.
Grammar: Usually placed before the main verb or at the end: She accidentally deleted the file.
Patterns
- accidentally do something
I accidentally left my keys at the cafe.
He accidentally knocked a glass off the table.
They accidentally met an old friend on the train.
Common combinations
- accidentally deleted
- She accidentally deleted the whole folder.
- accidentally dropped
- I accidentally dropped my phone in the sink.
- accidentally left
- We accidentally left the gate open.
- accidentally discovered
- The scientist accidentally discovered a new dye.
- accidentally on purpose
- He accidentally on purpose forgot to mention the bill.
Synonyms and how they differ
- by accident
- By accident means the same thing but comes after the verb and feels slightly more casual than accidentally.
- inadvertently
- Inadvertently is more formal and stresses a lack of attention, while accidentally simply says it was not planned.
- unintentionally
- Unintentionally focuses on missing intention, whereas accidentally often suggests a slip or a lucky chance.
- by chance
- By chance suggests a happy or neutral coincidence, while accidentally often points to a small mistake.
Opposites
Word family
- accident noun
- an unplanned event, often causing harm or damage
- accidental adjective
- happening by chance or mistake
- accidentally adverb
- in an accidental way
Commonly confused: accidentally or accidently?
accidentally vs accidently
Accidently is a common misspelling. The adverb is built from accidental plus ly, so the correct spelling keeps the al: accidentally.
Practice
Which sentence spells the adverb correctly?
Choose one answer.
The adverb is formed from accidental plus ly, giving accidentally with two l letters. The other options drop a letter, which is the usual spelling mistake.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “accidentally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.