automatically
Americanadverb
-
without volition or from force of habit; mechanically.
Whenever I hear that song, I automatically think of my dad.
-
by a device or process requiring no human intervention.
The switch can be operated automatically or manually.
-
in a manner independent of a decision or action.
Your membership will be renewed automatically.
-
(of a firearm) repeatedly for as long as the trigger is pulled.
a rifle that fires automatically.
Etymology
Origin of automatically
First recorded in 1710–15; automatic ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
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.
However, payable-on-death and transfer-on-death accounts do not automatically provide trust protections.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
The DWP will pay an interest-free advance, equivalent to the first month's payment, but will then automatically recover the money from subsequent Universal Credit payments, for up to two years.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
Claude Code tracks its coding mistakes and, in effect, teaches itself how to write better code automatically from simple prompts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
If he gets two more technical fouls between now and the end of the end of the regular season, he will be automatically suspended for an additional game.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026
A moment later, a pickup truck automatically rolled out from the garage.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
