involuntarily

UK: /ˈɪnvɒləntərəli/ US: /ɪnˈvɑlənˌtɛrəli, -ˌvɑlənˈtɛr-/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•vol•un•tar•y /ɪnˈvɑlənˌtɛri/   adj. 

1. not voluntary; independent of one's will:
   an involuntary witness to the crime.
2. unintentional;
   unconscious:
   an involuntary gesture.
3. Physiology acting or functioning without the will:
   [usually: before a noun] an involuntary muscular response.

in•vol•un•tar•i•ly /ɪnˈvɑlənˌtɛrəli, -ˌvɑlənˈtɛr-/  adv. 
in•vol•un•tar•i•ness, n. [uncountable] See -vol-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•vol•un•tar•y  (in vol′ən ter′ē), adj. 

1. not voluntary; independent of one's will;
   not by one's own choice:
   an involuntary listener; involuntary servitude.
2. unintentional;
   unconscious:
   an involuntary gesture.
3. Physiology acting independently of or done or occurring without volition:
   involuntary muscles.

• Late Latin involuntārius. See in-³, voluntary
• 1525–35

in•vol•un•tar•i•ly  (in vol′ən ter′ə lē, -vol′ən târ′-), adv.  in•vol′un•tar′i•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 3. See automatic. 
• 2. instinctive.
• 3. reflex, uncontrolled.

Antonyms

• 2. intentional.