automatic
word
Definition
If something is automatic, it works by itself or happens by itself without a person needing to control it all the time. It can also describe an action or reaction that you do without thinking.
Usage & Nuances
Common with machines and systems: 'automatic door', 'automatic payment', 'automatic transmission'. It also means 'immediate/certain' in phrases like 'not automatic', and 'without thinking' in 'an automatic response'. Don't confuse it with 'automated': 'automated' often suggests a system designed with technology, while 'automatic' is broader.
Example Sentences
The lights turn on automatically at night.
basic
His smile was automatic, not real.
basic
Just because you applied doesn't mean approval is automatic.
natural
Once you set up automatic payments, you don't have to remember the due date.
natural
This car has an automatic transmission.
basic
I said sorry almost automatically before I even knew what happened.
natural