by accident
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I’m a believer that politics is usually more like Veep than House of Cards; even world-changing events more often unfold by accident or luck than by design.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
Director of Public Prosecutions Brendan Kissane accepted it was regrettable but "happened, as far as we can tell… by accident".
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Sivanandan first found chess during the 2020 lockdowns, but unlike the adults who were swept up that year through the mega-popular show “The Queen’s Gambit,” she stumbled into the game by accident.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Unearthing the spadefoot toad wasn’t the result of a targeted search — it happened by accident, much like many of history’s greatest finds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
I nudged him, respectfully, as if by accident.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
