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

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The finishing by itself has been remarkable. Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 The doctrine instructs that an erroneous fact in a story is not, by itself, sufficient for a defamation claim. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2025 The sauce by itself is great, but the shell-on shrimp transform it with a wonderfully bright and salty depth. Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025 In this environment, debt by itself no longer guarantees returns. Amachie Ackah, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for by itself

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“By itself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20itself. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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