made, done, or happening without method or conscious decision, unpredictable in an interesting or exciting way

at random, random act of kindness, random sample

Formal and Informal Expressions of random

In different contexts, you can replace 'random' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'unplanned, unforeseen' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'haphazard, hit-or-miss' is a commonplace synonym.

random: Explore its Definition & Usage

random Definition

1made, done, or happening without method or conscious decision
2unpredictable in an interesting or exciting way

Using random: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "random" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I just picked a random book off the shelf.
Example
The winner was chosen by a random drawing.
Example
We took a random walk through the city.
Example
The computer generated a random number.

random Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for random

Antonyms for random

Phrases with random

at random
without a definite plan, aim, or purpose
Example
She chose her clothes at random from the wardrobe.
random act of kindness
a spontaneous and unexpected gesture of goodwill towards another person
Example
He bought coffee for the stranger behind him in line as a random act of kindness.
random sample
a sample taken from a larger population that is chosen randomly, so that each member of the population has an equal chance of being included in the sample
Example
The survey was conducted using a random sample of 1000 people.

Origins of random

from Old French 'randon', meaning 'impetuosity, speed, force'

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Summary: random in Brief

The term 'random' [ˈrændəm] refers to something made, done, or happening without method or conscious decision. It can also mean unpredictable in an interesting or exciting way. Examples include 'The computer generated a random number.' and 'We took a random walk through the city.' Phrases like 'at random' denote a lack of plan or purpose, while 'random act of kindness' describes a spontaneous gesture of goodwill.