Automatic Meaning

UK /ɔːtəˈmætɪk/
US /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
Word Definition
automatic meaning

Automatic Definition & Usage

adjective

Operating by itself or with minimal human control.

Examples

  • "The automatic door opened as soon as I approached."
  • "Her car is equipped with an automatic transmission, so she doesn't need to change gears manually."
  • "The sprinkler system is automatic, so it waters the garden every morning."
  • "An automatic coffee machine makes brewing coffee easier at the touch of a button."
  • "The lights turn on automatically when the sun sets."
adjective

Performed as if by instinct or habit, without needing conscious thought or decision-making.

Examples

  • "He greeted her with an automatic smile, even though he was upset."
  • "She reached for her phone in an automatic gesture."
  • "His automatic response to criticism was to get defensive."
  • "The robot's movements were so fluid that they seemed almost automatic."
  • "When the bell rang, the students stood up automatically."
noun

A machine or system that performs a function without the need for manual operation.

Examples

  • "The factory uses an automatic for packaging the products."
  • "She prefers the automatic over a manual typewriter for faster work."
  • "They installed an automatic to sort the mail efficiently."
  • "An automatic is a great addition to a smart home setup."
  • "The office has an automatic that schedules meetings based on availability."

Cultural Context

The concept of automation has been integral to human progress since the Industrial Revolution. Devices and systems designed to perform tasks without human intervention are key to modern technology, from self-driving cars to AI-driven customer service systems.

The Automatic Morning

Story

The Automatic Morning

Lena woke up to the sound of the automatic alarm clock. It was an ordinary Tuesday, but something about today felt different. As she stretched, her hand moved automatically to silence the ringing. The curtains, equipped with an automatic timer, opened to let the sunlight flood the room. She didn’t even need to think about it—the system worked on its own. In the kitchen, the automatic coffee machine had already brewed a fresh pot of coffee, its comforting aroma filling the air. Lena smiled. It was one of those small, simple joys that made her day easier. She reached for her phone out of habit, her fingers swiping across the screen without thinking. Meanwhile, in the garage, her car, a state-of-the-art model with an automatic transmission, sat waiting. Lena was able to drive effortlessly to work without shifting gears. The car, designed to think for her, even adjusted its speed depending on the traffic conditions. At the office, the lights turned on automatically as she walked into the building, and the receptionist greeted her with a smile that was almost automatic. She couldn’t help but notice how many parts of her day operated on autopilot—things that once required effort now just happened. But later, as she reflected on her evening, Lena wondered how much of her life was simply an automatic sequence of actions. Was she still making choices, or was her mind just going through the motions?

The Automatic Morning