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involuntary

[in-vol-uhn-ter-ee]

Example Sentences Origin

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:
1525–35; < Late Latin involuntārius. See in-³, voluntary

Related forms

in·vol·un·tar·i·ly

[in-vol-uhn-ter-uh-lee, -vol-uhn-tair-] , adverb

in·vol·un·tar·i·ness, noun

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

Antonyms
2. intentional.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Involuntary is always a great word to know.

So is reflex. Does it mean:

action in response to a stimulus of a system, a nerve or a muscle

pertaining to an involuntary response to a stimulus, in which the nerve impulse from a receptor is transmitted inward to a nerve center, then transmitted outward to an effector

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Example Sentences

The involuntary eye movements of nystagmus are caused by abnormal function in the areas of the brain that control eye movements.

First, let's consider involuntary collaboration with jerks.

Government offices are closed on some days, as state workers take involuntary and unpaid furloughs.

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The involuntary eye movements of nystagmus are caused by abnormal function in the areas of the brain that control eye movements.

First, let's consider involuntary collaboration with jerks.

Government offices are closed on some days, as state workers take involuntary and unpaid furloughs.

However, some migrations are forced and involuntary.

Shivering is another response to chilling: the involuntary movements burn body tissue to produce more body heat.

If someone touches you in certain places in a certain way, it prompts an involuntary but pleasurable physiological response.

Many of them are responding to recent court decisions granting involuntary mental patients a right to refuse.

It's a good conversation-starter for discussion of involuntary commitment.

His trainer was unconsciously signalling answers to the horse with involuntary cues.

Soon it was his turn to let out an involuntary curse of astonishment.

Stuttering is a communication disorder generally characterized by involuntary disruptions in the flow of speech.

Dystonias are abnormal involuntary muscle tone and movements in groups of muscles.

Essential tremor is a type of involuntary shaking movement in which no cause can be identified.

Second, isolation has been neither complete nor entirely involuntary.

And there's not much you do about it, either: blushing is involuntary and uncontrollable.

But his company filed for involuntary bankruptcy two weeks ago.

Involuntary means you shake without trying to do so.

Arguably reserve currency status incurs some responsibilities, even if it was involuntary.

These iris muscles are under the control of the autonomic nervous system, which deals with involuntary reflex actions.

Drug-induced tremor is involuntary shaking due to the use of medication.

Forcing posters to reveal their real names on forum involves involuntary consent.

Exploding oil rigs and cars with involuntary acceleration come to mind.

McDermott's hospitalizations were voluntary or involuntary.

China will have to change: it is a question of voluntary or involuntary.

Again, nothing in science justifies that involuntary taking of a person's life to save another.

Familial tremor is an involuntary shaking movement that tends to run in families.

Brady lied on their gun applications in denying involuntary commitment, and there was no information to catch them.

Tardive dyskinesia is a disorder that involves involuntary movements, especially of the lower face.

Safety measures should also be taken to prevent injury from the involuntary movements.

Involuntary commitment of homeless alcoholics has been used elsewhere in the country.

But stories of laid-off workers, unpaid salaries and involuntary holidays are having more.

For this reason, involuntary outpatient treatment can provide an important safety net.

Microscopic involuntary trembling characterizes even the steadiest fixation.

There are several kinds of involuntary jaw movements, and it is important to distinguish chattering from grinding.

EU leaders have also previously pledged that private creditors will not suffer an involuntary debt restructuring until mid.

The only way you can get out of this involuntary research project is to wear a wristband saying you've opted out.

The club pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter.

In involuntary euthanasia, a doctor kills a patient who has not asked to die.

Tourette's is a developmental disorder defined by a set of involuntary motor and verbal tics.

Landersman had been negligent and indicted him on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Yesterday because of the involuntary impulse to view the world from the perspective of industrial countries.

There is significant difference between voluntary and involuntary exposure.

Also, there are rare reports of women having involuntary penis captivus.

Federal charges of involuntary servitude are relatively rare.

To many opponents vaccination feels involuntary though there are opt outs.

Velazquez committed voluntary or involuntary manslaughter or.

She had pleaded no contest to charges of involuntary manslaughter and administering dangerous drugs.

Fishing olives out of a jar is often an involuntary catch-and-release program.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

involuntary (ɪnˈvɒləntərɪ, -trɪ)

—*adj*
1.	carried out without one's conscious wishes; not voluntary; unintentional
2.	physiol (esp of a movement or muscle) performed or acting without conscious control

in'voluntarily

—*adv*

in'voluntariness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

involuntary

1531, from L.L. involuntarius "involuntary," from in- "not" + L. voluntarius (see voluntary).

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

involuntary in·vol·un·tar·y (ĭn-vŏl'ən-těr'ē)
adj.

Not subject to control of the volition.
Acting or done without or against one's will.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

involuntary

(ĭn-vŏl'ən-těr'ē) Pronunciation Key
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.

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"Like everything which is not the involuntary result of fleeting emotion but the creation of time and will, any marriage, happy or unhappy, is infinitely more interesting than any romance, however passionate."

-W.H. Auden

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