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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To avoid using too much water and seeing your utility bills skyrocket, Manfredini recommends adding a water timer that helps get the right amount of water on the lawn and turns off by itself. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025 Fennel isn't a good companion for most garden vegetables and should be grown in a little patch or pot by itself. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 June 2025 The baby's probably been there by itself for at least a week. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025 Eurydice may have even been dwarfed by itself, since in 2021 it was turned into an opera, with a libretto by Ruhl and a score by Matthew Aucoin, and staged at the Met, making the original non-operatic version seem somewhat slight. Pamela Newton june 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for by itself

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Cite this Entry

“By itself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20itself. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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