by itself
idiom
1
: without being directly controlled by a person : automatically
The computer shuts off by itself if you haven't used it for a while.
The sprinkler will turn on by itself.
2
: with nothing nearby : alone
The house stood by itself at the end of the street.
Examples of by itself in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The turtle is fitted with a satellite tracker that will eventually fall off by itself.
—
Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 16 May 2024
To me, the lesson here is that more spending — as helpful and important as that is — almost surely won’t be enough by itself.
—Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for by itself 
Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 16 May 2024
To me, the lesson here is that more spending — as helpful and important as that is — almost surely won’t be enough by itself.
—Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for by itself
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'by itself.' 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 by itself
Cite this Entry
“By itself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20itself. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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