automatically

[aw-tuh-mat-ik-lee]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of automatically¹

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

Example Sentences

When pressed, it automatically starts recording 20 seconds of audio, capturing what's happening around the user.

Read more on BBC

Then there’s the rest: Maine currently lets seniors join an “ongoing” absentee list to automatically get ballots for each election.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They both said they wish that all college students were automatically eligible for the program.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The cards are usually reloaded automatically on the first day of the month.

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It pulled up to a construction site and automatically unloaded some crates.

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Related Words

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