automatically

American  

[aw-tuh-mat-ik-lee] / ˌɔ təˈmæt ɪk li /

adverb

1. without volition or from force of habit; mechanically.

   Whenever I hear that song, I automatically think of my dad.

2. by a device or process requiring no human intervention.

   The switch can be operated automatically or manually.

3. in a manner independent of a decision or action.

   Your membership will be renewed automatically.

4. (of a firearm) repeatedly for as long as the trigger is pulled.

   a rifle that fires automatically.

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Etymology

Origin of automatically

First recorded in 1710–15; automatic ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Explanation

Something that happens automatically happens in a mechanical way without a person having to do anything extra. If you walk through a door that swings open by itself, it opened automatically. When something is done automatically, it does it on its own, like a spellchecker that corrects your spelling automatically. In a crash, a car's airbag automatically fills with air. Many computers automatically go into rest mode (to save energy) if you don't touch them for a few seconds. Automatically can also refer to how you do something without thinking about it, like if you automatically walk into your old apartment and startle the new tenants.

Example Sentences

Prosecutors said the vessel had not been approved to use a flushing pump for its generators, as the pump was not designed to automatically restart after a blackout.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

A rules-based framework accommodates a productivity boom automatically.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

And since the ring automatically detects when I’m working out, I can just do the activity without pushing buttons to start tracking it.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

The ultimate goal is a compiler that takes code written for conventional computers and automatically transforms it into an efficient quantum algorithm.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Instead, guided by the spirits, Isaac’s hand wrote automatically.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• commonly
• faithfully
• frequently
• repeatedly
• routinely
• systematically
• usually