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
In many cases, nutrients work best paired together, whereas supplements often deliver the nutrient by itself.
—
Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
Finding this amino acid in water indicates the presence of fecal coliform bacteria from animal and human waste, which is hard to detect by itself.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Uploading this information by itself into a computer won’t accomplish much.
—Dobromir Rahnev, The Conversation, 23 May 2025
Supporters of kratom argue that the herb by itself has proven safe for tens of millions of consumers, though tragedy has struck some, including Daniel Bregger.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for by itself
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.
Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
Finding this amino acid in water indicates the presence of fecal coliform bacteria from animal and human waste, which is hard to detect by itself.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Uploading this information by itself into a computer won’t accomplish much.
—Dobromir Rahnev, The Conversation, 23 May 2025
Supporters of kratom argue that the herb by itself has proven safe for tens of millions of consumers, though tragedy has struck some, including Daniel Bregger.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for by itself
Cite this Entry
“By itself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20itself. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share