involuntarily — without conscious control; done against one's will or without choice
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: without conscious control; done against one's will or without choice
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈvɑːləntərəli/
Example Sentences
- He involuntarily laughed when his boss slipped on the banana peel during the serious meeting.
- She involuntarily checked her phone every five minutes, even though she was trying to focus on studying.
- The employee involuntarily rolled his eyes when the manager announced another 'fun' team-building exercise.
involuntarily
ADVERB[/ɪnˈvɑːləntərəli/]
without conscious control; done against one's will or without choice
a student sits at a wooden desk trying to read quietly when suddenly lets out a loud sneeze. Her body jerks backward as the sneeze erupts, sending papers flying from her desk. The unexpected sneeze happened despite her efforts to stay silent in the library. Other students at nearby tables turn to look with surprised expressions on their faces. A librarian in the background raises her finger to her lips with a stern look. an action happening without conscious control and against one's will
Moving involuntarily, then momentarily awakening to walk voluntarily!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin, combining the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') with 'voluntarius' (meaning 'willing' or 'voluntary'). The word passed through Medieval Latin before entering English, where it came to describe actions that occur contrary to one's own will or intention.
Breakdown
in- (not, negation) + voluntar- (from Latin voluntarius, willing) + -y (adjectival suffix) + -ly (adverbial suffix converting the adjective to an adverb).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“He involuntarily laughed when his boss slipped on the banana peel during the serious meeting.”
“She involuntarily checked her phone every five minutes, even though she was trying to focus on studying.”
“The employee involuntarily rolled his eyes when the manager announced another 'fun' team-building exercise.”
“Many people involuntarily hold their breath when passing by a cemetery.”
📚Related Words
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