Words / B2

ort-uh-MAT-ik/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/

Automatic means working by itself without a person controlling each step: automatic doors, an automatic payment. Automatic can also mean happening without thought (an automatic reply, an automatic assumption). Manual is the opposite for machines; deliberate is the opposite for thought. Automatically is the adverb. In speech, it does it by itself is enough. Do not use it as praise for a person (“she is automatic”) — that sounds odd.

Meaning

Working by itself without a person controlling each step.

Examples

• “The doors are automatic.”
• “The lights are automatic after dusk, so lock the side door yourself.”
• “His automatic answer was yes, before he had read the cost.”

Good to know

Working by itself, or done without thinking. Opposite (machines): manual. Adverb: automatically. Everyday: by itself / without thinking.

Near in meaning

mechanical

New