in·vol·un·tar·y
Audio Help [in-vol-uh
n-ter-ee] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [in-vol-uh
n-ter-ee] Pronunciation Key –adjective
| 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. |
—Related forms
in·vol·un·tar·i·ness, noun
—Antonyms 2. intentional.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
involuntary
To learn more about involuntary visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| in·vol·un·tar·y
Audio Help (ĭn-vŏl'ən-těr'ē) Pronunciation Key
adj.
in·vol'un·tar'i·ly (-târ'ə-lē) adv., in·vol'un·tar'i·ness n. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
involuntary
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| involuntary | |
adjective | |
| 1. | not subject to the control of the will; "involuntary manslaughter"; "involuntary servitude"; "an involuntary shudder"; "It (becoming a hero) was involuntary. They sank my boat"- John F.Kennedy [ant: voluntary] |
| 2. | controlled by the autonomic nervous system; without conscious control; "involuntary muscles"; "gave an involuntary start" [ant: voluntary] |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
involuntary [inˈvoləntəri] adjective
(of an action etc) not intentional
Example: He gave an involuntary cry.
Example: He gave an involuntary cry.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
| involuntary
Audio Help (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. |
| The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
Involuntary
In*vol"un*ta*ri*ly\, adv. [From Involuntary.] In an involuntary manner; not voluntarily; not intentionally or willingly.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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