automatic

adjective

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au·to·mat·ic | \ ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik

Definition of automatic

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : largely or wholly involuntary especially : reflex sense 5 automatic blinking of the eyelids

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

automatic

noun

Definition of automatic (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a machine or apparatus that operates automatically especially : an automatic firearm

2a : 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

Other Words from automatic Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing automatic Learn More About automatic

Other Words from automatic

Adjective

automatically \ ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

automaticity \ ˌȯ-tə-mə-ˈti-sə-tē

, -ma- \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for automatic

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

nonmechanical

Choose the Right Synonym for automatic

Adjective

spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, automatic, mechanical mean acting or activated without deliberation. spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness. a spontaneous burst of applause impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment. impulsive acts of violence instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will. blinking is an instinctive reaction automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response. his denial was automatic mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response. a mechanical teaching method

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: Adjective Their son, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, allegedly used a semi-automatic handgun his parents bought him in the shooting that killed four students and injured seven. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2022 After using a battering ram and ordering everyone to get on the ground, police discovered a semi-automatic handgun tucked between some sheets in a laundry basket. — John Fritze, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2022 Blackard, who was sitting behind Smith in a moving car on Saturday, fired a single round from his semi-automatic handgun, hitting Smith in the back, authorities said. — CBS News, 15 Mar. 2022 Blackard fired a single round from a semi-automatic handgun, which struck Smith in the back, said Casey Hicks, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. — David Aaro, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2022 The gun allegedly shot by Siderio, a Taurus, 9MM, semi-automatic handgun, was recovered at the scene, police said. — NBC News, 9 Mar. 2022 Inside the vehicle, authorities found a 40-caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with nine bullets inside a 10-round magazine. — Dakin Andone And Stella Chan, CNN, 3 Mar. 2022 That evidence showed that Outlaw, who was in the passenger seat in a slow moving car, opened fire on Rodriguez with a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun as Rodriguez unloaded items from his car, according to authorities. — Edmund H. Mahony, courant.com, 24 Feb. 2022 According to court documents, Alvarado pointed a semi-automatic handgun at Cedillo in the parking lot of the Granada Apartments. — Elizabeth Zavala, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Dec. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The piece is outfitted with the manufacture automatic-wining 69385 caliber chronograph movement, visible through the caseback, which is equipped with the chronograph functions, date and day display and small hacking seconds. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2022 The most significant powertrain change is the arrival of a new wet-clutch nine-speed transmission, which has planetary gears like a conventional automatic but uses a clutch pack instead of a torque converter to improve off-the-line response. — Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 14 Mar. 2022 The six-speed automatic is now only available on the top Grand Touring model. — Connor Hoffman, Car and Driver, 16 Dec. 2021 Thanks to them the R retains the option of the manual transmission in the U.S. and Canada; in every other market, including Germany, Golf R is fitted exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. — Dan Neil, WSJ, 27 Jan. 2022 Polaris doesn't quote shift times, but this automatic's one-Mississippi shift action is more early Smart ForTwo than Ferrari F430 Scuderia. — Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 8 Apr. 2021 Power is courtesy of either a 2.5-liter turbo-four or a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, both connect to an eight-speed automatic. — Derek Powell, Car and Driver, 3 Aug. 2021 An optional six-speed manual transmission is offered in the U.S. and Canada; in other markets, including Germany, the R uses a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. — Dan Neil, WSJ, 27 Jan. 2022 The only transmission on offer is a 9-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive is a standard feature. — Kyle Edward, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'automatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near automatic

automated teller machine

automatic

automatic block signal

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Last Updated

4 Apr 2022

Cite this Entry

“Automatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automatic. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.

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More Definitions for automatic

automatic

adjective

au·to·mat·ic | \ ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik

Kids Definition of automatic

1 : involuntary sense 1 automatic blinking of eyelids

2 : being a machine or device that allows something to work without being directly controlled by a person

automatic

adjective

au·to·mat·ic

Legal Definition of automatic

: happening or existing through the operation of a preexisting arrangement that is triggered by some event specifically : happening or existing through the operation of law automatic reversal an automatic appeal