autonomously

[aw-ton-uh-muhs-lee]

adverb

1. in a way that is self-governing or free of outside control; independently.

   The ideal candidate will be able to work autonomously and without supervision.

2. with little or no human control or intervention.

   We have developed a service robot that operates autonomously, in concert with a network of devices in its environment.

3. Biology.

   1. as an independent organism.

      Viruses, on the boundary between living and nonliving, cannot autonomously reproduce but require the biochemistry and structure of a host cell.

   2. naturally or spontaneously, without cultivation.

      They organized a work day to get rid of the plants growing wildly, autonomously, and unwantedly all around the building.

Other Word Forms

• nonautonomously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of autonomously¹

autonomous ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Agentic AI - where the tech operates autonomously - has been touted as the next big step in the space.

From BBC

As Tesla scrambles to catch up, the company also faces a lawsuit from the Department of Motor Vehicles accusing Tesla of leading buyers to believe that its vehicles can operate autonomously.

From Los Angeles Times

He faces a lawsuit from the Department of Motor Vehicles accusing the company of leading buyers to believe that its vehicles can operate autonomously.

From Los Angeles Times

California has finally called him out, via a lawsuit accusing Tesla of leading buyers to believe that its vehicles can operate autonomously — as self-driving cars — which they “could not and cannot do.”

From Los Angeles Times

A passive AI model that engages in strategic deception can be troubling, but it becomes dangerous if that model actively performs tasks in the real world autonomously.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• freely 
• individually 
• separately