adverb
inadvertently
adverb
1
By accident; without meaning to; as a result of not paying attention.
"She inadvertently left her phone on the train."
"The email was inadvertently sent to the whole company instead of one person."
How to Use Inadvertently
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing something by accident or oversight, not on purpose.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "inadvertently" meaning careless on purpose — it always implies the act was unintentional.
Common pairings
inadvertently reveal
inadvertently caused
inadvertently left
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She _____ left her phone on the train.
Etymology
From inadvertent plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Antonyms
Related Words
Rhymes for inadvertently
gently
recently
fluently
urgently
silently
intently
patently
decently
currently
fervently
patiently
evidently
See all rhymes for inadvertently →