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.
Trump also referenced Ukraine in the Telegraph, saying: "We've been there automatically, including Ukraine."
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
AI agents could be deployed to buy protective puts should oil spike, hedging against potential stock losses, and automatically sweep customers’ cash into higher-yielding assets, like bonds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Tax software from H&R Block, TurboTax and others will automatically import last year’s data, import W-2s and 1099s, calculate deductions, check for errors, and transfer federal data to state returns.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026
The baritone, Vincent Casagrande, a marvelously cantankerous Prisoner, tells us only sick people dream, and of course everyone on stage automatically enters a dream state.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
Anyone who did well enough at that meet would automatically go on to compete at the Visa National Championships in August.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
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.
