random
gb/ɹˈændəm/ us/ɹˈændəm/
B1
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Without plan or order
Happening without any plan or clear reason.
Usage pattern:
[something] is random
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'random' with 'rare' or 'unusual', but 'random' means without plan or pattern, not necessarily uncommon.
Synonyms
arbitrary (Often implies being based on personal whim rather than logic or system.)
Antonyms
planned (Implies something arranged in advance with a clear purpose.)
Collocations
random choice
|random sample
|random event
|completely random
|seemingly random
Themes
daily life
|thinking
|decision-making
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The seating arrangement seemed completely random.
- We made a random selection of participants for the study.
- A random noise came from the kitchen in the middle of the night.
- The numbers are generated by a random process.
- She grabbed a random book from the shelf.
Learner examples
- The order of the names is random.
- He asked a random question.
- I saw a random man on the street.
- We chose a random card from the deck.
- The teacher picked a random student to answer.
adjective
informal
B2
property
2
Strange or out of place
Used to say something is strange or not related to what is happening.
Usage pattern:
That's random!
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use means 'chosen without plan', but in informal speech it often means 'strange' or 'unrelated'.
Synonyms
weird (More focused on being strange or unusual rather than unrelated.)
Antonyms
relevant (Directly connected to the topic or situation.)
Collocations
that's random
|really random
|kind of random
Themes
slang
|conversation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He started talking about penguins in the middle of our meeting. That was so random.
- Why did she bring up that random story?
- It feels kind of random that they invited him.
Learner examples
- That was a random thing to say.
- She told a random joke in class.
- He made a random comment about cats.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
3
Lack of pattern in selection
A way of choosing or doing something without any plan or order.
Usage pattern:
[something] is chosen at random
Synonyms
chance (Focuses on the role of luck rather than absence of pattern.)
Antonyms
system (Implies an organized method or pattern.)
Collocations
at random
|pure random
|true random
Themes
science
|statistics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The subjects were assigned to groups at random.
- Cards were dealt at random to each player.
- At random, he picked a name from the list.
Learner examples
- We chose the winner at random.
- The teacher called on students at random.
- She picked a number at random.
Grammar
Dictionary form
random
IPA
GB/ɹˈændəm/
US/ɹˈændəm/
Syllables & stress
ran - dom (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ran)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: random
Word family
Core family
randomly
adverb B2
randomness
noun
Related words
randomize
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
nonrandom
adjective
Advanced or less common
randomization
noun C1
randomizer
noun
Expressions
pick at random
1/pˈɪk ˈæt ɹˈændəm/
fixed phrase
Choose without plan or order
To choose something without any plan; by chance.
Examples
- We picked three names at random from the list.
- She picked a card at random from the deck.
at random
1/ˈæt ɹˈændəm/
fixed phrase
Without method or pattern in choice/action
Without any plan or order.
Examples
- The teacher called on students at random.
- The books were stacked at random on the table.
- The inspector chose five stores at random to visit.
- The books were placed on the shelf at random.
- Winners will be selected at random from all entries.
- Guns were fired at random into the crowd.
- I opened the book at random and started reading.