involuntary
[ in-vol-uhn-ter-ee ]
/ ɪnˈvɒl ənˌtɛr i /
adjective
not voluntary; independent of one's will; not by one's own choice: an involuntary listener; involuntary servitude.
unintentional; unconscious: an involuntary gesture.
Physiology.
acting independently of or done or occurring without volition: involuntary muscles.
Origin of involuntary
SYNONYMS FOR involuntary
2
instinctive.
synonym study for involuntary
1, 3. See
automatic.
OTHER WORDS FROM involuntary
in·vol·un·tar·i·ly [in-vol-uhn-ter-uh-lee, -vol-uhn-tair-] /ɪnˈvɒl ənˌtɛr ə li, -ˌvɒl ənˈtɛər-/, adverb in·vol·un·tar·i·ness, nounWords nearby involuntary
invoke,
involucel,
involucrate,
involucre,
involucrum,
involuntary,
involuntary muscle,
involute,
involute gear,
involute teeth,
involuted
Example sentences from the Web for involuntary
British Dictionary definitions for involuntary
involuntary
/ (ɪnˈvɒləntərɪ, -trɪ) /
adjective
carried out without one's conscious wishes; not voluntary; unintentional
physiol
(esp of a movement or muscle) performed or acting without conscious control
Derived forms of involuntary
involuntarily, adverb involuntariness, nounMedical definitions for involuntary
involuntary
[ ĭn-vŏl′ən-tĕr′ē ]
adj.
Not subject to control of the volition.
Acting or done without or against one's will.
Scientific definitions for involuntary
involuntary
[ ĭn-vŏl′ən-tĕr′ē ]
Not under conscious control. Most of the biological processes in animals that are vital to life, such as contraction of the heart, blood flow, breathing, and digestion, are involuntary and controlled by the autonomic nervous system.