What does "random" mean?
A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.
Random
/ˈɹændəm/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.
- Grammar: random is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: about, accidental, adventitious, adventitiously.
- Useful contrasts: academic historical term, alphabetic list, alphabetical.
- Usage evidence: I used to read novels at random.
How to use "random"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "random" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "random" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "random" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "random" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "random" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "about" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "random", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance. countable, uncountable
"Still take advice ; though counsels, when they fly / At random, sometimes hit most happily."
- 2 Speed, full speed; impetuosity, force. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"they were messagers vnto kyng Ban & Bors sent from kynge Arthur / therfor said the viij knyghtes ye shalle dye or be prysoners / for we ben knyghtes of kyng Claudas And therwith two of them dressid theire sperys / and Vlfyus and Brastias dressid theire speres and ranne to gyder with grete raundon"
- 3 The full range of a bullet or other projectile; hence, the angle at which a weapon is tilted to allow the greatest range. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"Fortie yards will they shoot levell, or very neare the marke, and 120 is their best at Random."
- 4 An undefined, unknown or unimportant person; a person of no consequence. colloquial, countable, figuratively, uncountable
"The party was boring. It was full of randoms."
- 5 The direction of a rake-vein. countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A frame for composing type. countable, historical, uncountable
"Utilization of all floor space underneath case racks and randoms is another feature of the modern composing room; […]"
Verb
- 1 To wander; to stray; to meander. intransitive, uncommon
Adjective
- 1 Occurring for no particular reason; haphazard, unpredictable.
"Our city is plagued by random acts of violence."
- 2 Involving an outcome which is impossible to predict, but which may be represented by a probability distribution; in the ideal case, involving outcomes which are equally likely.
"Near-synonyms: aleatory, stochastic"
- 3 Pseudorandom; mimicking the result of random selection.
"The rand function generates a random number from a seed."
- 4 Selected for no particular reason; arbitrary; unspecified. informal
"A random American off the street couldn't tell the difference."
- 5 Being (part of) a varied, unrelated, and apparently arbitrary collection of things; diverse, heterogeneous. informal
"My notebook has turned into a random collection of thoughts."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Apropos of nothing; lacking context, relevance, or any connection to the previous situation; unexpected. informal
"This random guy just came up to me to say that he was a fan of my work."
- 7 Of a person: characterized by or often saying random things; habitually using non sequiturs. informal
"You're so random! I never know what you're going to do next."
- 8 Being out of the ordinary; unusual or unexpected; odd, strange, bizarre. UK, slang
"That's a rather random fact!"
Adjective
- 1 lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I used to read novels at random."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "random"?
Common synonyms include: about, accidental, adventitious, adventitiously, afrikaans random, aimless.
How do you use "random" in a sentence?
I used to read novels at random.
How do you pronounce "random"?
Pronounced /ˈɹændəm/.
Etymology
From earlier randon, from Middle English randoun, raundon, from Old French randon, from randir (“to run, gallop”) (whence French randonnée (“long walk, hike”)), from Frankish *randiju (“a run, race”) or Old Norse rend (“a run, race”), both from Proto-Germanic *randijō, from *rinnaną (“run”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *(H)r̥-nw- (“to flow, move, run”). Cognate with Middle Low German uprinden (“to jump up”), Danish rende (“to run”). See run.