voluntarily

[ vol-uhn-tair-uh-lee, vol-uhn-ter- ]

adverb

1. of one’s own accord or by free choice:

   Students were mostly attending the sessions voluntarily, so they were reasonably well-behaved.

2. by volunteers, or in a way that depends on voluntary action:

   The Political Science Club is a politically neutral and voluntarily operated nonprofit organization.

Other Words From

• un·vol·un·tar·i·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluntarily¹

voluntary ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

While the feature is entirely voluntary—the apps still work if users don’t add their numbers—many governments don’t ask, in an effort to make people feel more secure about privacy.

From MIT Technology Review

Over 130 countries worldwide now use some form of gender quota law for their governments or voluntary political party quotas.

From Fortune

The restriction marks a departure from the country’s previous guidelines that relied mainly on voluntary measures to stop transmission.

From Fortune

“There’s so much added risk with these systems,” said Maurice Turner, a senior adviser to the Election Assistance Commission, which sets federal voluntary standards for voting machines.

From Fortune

The Family Forest Impact Foundation will, in turn, sell credits for the additional carbon that builds up on the properties to companies like Amazon on voluntary offset markets.

From MIT Technology Review

These young adults have voluntarily checked out of a political system they consider corrupt and dysfunctional.

From The Daily Beast

Unlike Brada Mendez, Earle, who had a violent past, was not attending A.A. voluntarily.

From The Daily Beast

He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours.

From The Daily Beast

It'll only buzz during "coaching" sessions that users voluntarily try out to help them build a habit of good posture.

From The Daily Beast

It's persecuting the male students and allowing females to escape scrutiny for voluntarily ingesting alcohol, as well.

From The Daily Beast

Very instructive here is the way in which children will voluntarily come and submit themselves to our discipline.

From Project Gutenberg

A court might hold that the man who gave it to him was a fool for entrusting such a package voluntarily with him.

From Project Gutenberg

Thousands insisted that he must have voluntarily surrendered, for how could he have been caught when he had the anting-anting?

From Project Gutenberg

"As I am necessarily in your confidence I will take you voluntarily into mine," he announced, in his clear high pipe.

From Project Gutenberg

The very first obligation, voluntarily accepted by personally or socially discharging it, binds additionally to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deliberately
• freely
• intentionally
• spontaneously
• willingly