au·to·mat·ic
ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik 
1
a
: largely or wholly involuntary
b
: acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously
the automatic applause of the audience
c
: done or produced as if by machine : mechanical
the answers were automatic
2
: having a self-acting or self-regulating mechanism
an automatic transmission
3
of a firearm
: firing repeatedly until the trigger is released
1
: a machine or apparatus that operates automatically
especially
: an automatic firearm
2
a
: an automatic transmission
a car with a three-speed automatic
b
: an automobile with an automatic transmission
Is your car an automatic or a manual?
3
American football
: audible
Synonyms
Examples of automatic in a Sentence
Adjective
Without thinking, he gave an automatic reply.
She always has an automatic smile for everyone.
Noun
Will your next car be a manual or an automatic?
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The Suns remained one game behind the Suns for the No. 6 seed and an automatic playoff berth.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Apr. 2024
Additionally, this mattress comes with some handy perks, like an automatic inflate and deflate mode that allows the user to fully fill the mattress without fear of overfilling it.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
After a huge 135-123 win at Sacramento on Thursday, the New Orleans Pelicans currently sit in the sixth and final automatic playoff spot, one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns in seventh as both teams desperately try and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Since then, an automatic termination date for that deal lapsed in January.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Guide numbers are something old-school photographers know about, but can be intimidating if you are used to automatic flash control.
—PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
Convenience features: a 12-volt power outlet, 60/40 split fold down rear seatbacks, dark tint privacy glass, dual-pinion electric power assist steering, dual zone automatic climate control and incline start assist.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
The Cardinals scored their automatic runner in the 10th, taking a 6-5 lead.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2024
There were, at most, two automatics on the pad at any time for as many as twenty people, so real practice behind the wheel was quite limited, as few of us knew how to operate the pad’s two manual trucks.
—Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Still, the manual shifter—a relatively rare item on the SUV market these days—keeps it ahead of Jeeps and Fords equipped with pushrod sixes and automatics: The Jeep runs to 60 mph in 10.3 seconds, the Explorer in 10.7.
—Phil Berg, Car and Driver, 5 Sep. 2023
View Photos The Odyssey and the Sienna are also new for the 2011 model year, but both offer carry-over engines lashed to new six-speed automatics (available only in Touring trim on the Honda).
—Mike Austin, Car and Driver, 15 Apr. 2023
Jean Ratelle, Ray Bourque, and Patrice Bergeron are my three automatics for the Bruins’ all-Quebecois version of Mont Rushmore.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023
But the 2023 Nissan Z automatic's base price—$42,085—is worth dwelling on for a moment, because that's $12,610 less than the minimum buy-in for the Z's most obvious competitor, the Toyota GR Supra 3.0.
—Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 3 June 2023
Two young folk singers strumming guitars become soldiers in combat garb, yielding semi automatics.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 21 Mar. 2023
Stick shifts used to have a fuel efficiency advantage over automatics.
—Joel Mathis, The Week, 6 Mar. 2023
Adjective
Dodgers left-hander Ryan Yarbrough threw a scoreless top of the 10th, and the Dodgers threatened in the bottom of the 10th when Freeman, the automatic runner, tagged up and took third on Will Smith’s inning-opening fly ball to deep center.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The Suns remained one game behind the Suns for the No. 6 seed and an automatic playoff berth.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Apr. 2024
Additionally, this mattress comes with some handy perks, like an automatic inflate and deflate mode that allows the user to fully fill the mattress without fear of overfilling it.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024
After a huge 135-123 win at Sacramento on Thursday, the New Orleans Pelicans currently sit in the sixth and final automatic playoff spot, one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns in seventh as both teams desperately try and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Since then, an automatic termination date for that deal lapsed in January.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Guide numbers are something old-school photographers know about, but can be intimidating if you are used to automatic flash control.
—PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
Convenience features: a 12-volt power outlet, 60/40 split fold down rear seatbacks, dark tint privacy glass, dual-pinion electric power assist steering, dual zone automatic climate control and incline start assist.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
The Cardinals scored their automatic runner in the 10th, taking a 6-5 lead.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Noun
However, the delay doesn’t change the outcome: The CFP will shift the access format from six automatic qualifiers and six at-large bids to five automatics and seven at-larges.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2024
There were, at most, two automatics on the pad at any time for as many as twenty people, so real practice behind the wheel was quite limited, as few of us knew how to operate the pad’s two manual trucks.
—Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Still, the manual shifter—a relatively rare item on the SUV market these days—keeps it ahead of Jeeps and Fords equipped with pushrod sixes and automatics: The Jeep runs to 60 mph in 10.3 seconds, the Explorer in 10.7.
—Phil Berg, Car and Driver, 5 Sep. 2023
View Photos The Odyssey and the Sienna are also new for the 2011 model year, but both offer carry-over engines lashed to new six-speed automatics (available only in Touring trim on the Honda).
—Mike Austin, Car and Driver, 15 Apr. 2023
Jean Ratelle, Ray Bourque, and Patrice Bergeron are my three automatics for the Bruins’ all-Quebecois version of Mont Rushmore.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023
But the 2023 Nissan Z automatic's base price—$42,085—is worth dwelling on for a moment, because that's $12,610 less than the minimum buy-in for the Z's most obvious competitor, the Toyota GR Supra 3.0.
—Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 3 June 2023
Two young folk singers strumming guitars become soldiers in combat garb, yielding semi automatics.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 21 Mar. 2023
Stick shifts used to have a fuel efficiency advantage over automatics.
—Joel Mathis, The Week, 6 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'automatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near automatic
Cite this Entry
“Automatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automatic. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
automatic
1 of 2 adjective
au·to·mat·ic
ˌȯt-ə-ˈmat-ik
1
a
: largely or wholly involuntary
especially
: reflex sense 2
b
: acting or done without conscious thought or intention
an automatic smile
2
: having devices or mechanisms that permit operation without help from a person
automatic washer
3
: firing repeatedly until the trigger is released
an automatic rifle
automatic
2 of 2 noun
: an automatic machine or device
especially
: an automatic firearm
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