autocomplete

American  

[aw-toh-kuhm-pleet] / ˌɔ toʊ kəmˈplit /

verb (used with object)

autocompleted, autocompleting

1. to complete (a sequence of characters) in a text field in a digital document or app.

   Why would this library app autocomplete a book’s title if they don’t have it?!

2. sometimes used interchangeably with autofill.

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noun

1. a feature of a messaging app, word processor, email program, web browser, etc., that automatically predicts the remaining characters in a word or phrase based on what has been typed or input before.

   Using autocomplete makes typing on my phone’s tiny keyboard so much faster.

Other Word Forms

• autocompletion noun

Etymology

Origin of autocomplete

First recorded in 1990–95; auto- ³ ( def. ) + complete ( def. )

Example Sentences

What began as a way to autocomplete code quickly evolved into semiautonomous AI bots, or “agents,” that can work for hours on end with little human oversight.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some were provided biased information through AI autocomplete writing tools, and based on surveys before and after the exercise, their views shifted in the direction of the bias even if they were made aware of the bias.

From Los Angeles Times

They noted a viral essay by Matt Schumer, the co-founder and CEO of autocomplete tool company OthersideAI, warning most people would be “blindsided” by AI.

From MarketWatch

Cursor, an AI start-up, is seeing accelerating demand for its programming assistant, which enables programmers to autocomplete code, fix bugs faster, and automate boilerplate tasks.

From Barron's

Co-founded by four Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates who are all still in their mid-20s, the company makes an AI tool that learns a developer’s coding style to help autocomplete, edit and review lines of code, according to software engineers.

From The Wall Street Journal