automatic pilot
noun
2
: a state or condition in which activity or behavior is regulated automatically in a predetermined or instinctive manner
doing his job on automatic pilot
Examples of automatic pilot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s no automatic pilot.
—
Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 7 June 2022
The boat’s automatic pilot function was likely to have been engaged, with its radar showing what was nearby.
—Michael Wilson, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Davì relied on his automatic pilot and took micro naps of 15-to-20 minutes, waking regularly to check the instruments.
—Diane Bellcolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2022
The Sox manager is biding his time before October, making sure everyone gets enough rest (hello, Tim Anderson) and trying to get the bullpen on automatic pilot after another shaky month.
—Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2021
Was this an intervention by a human being or an algorithm on automatic pilot?
—Salvatore J. Cordileone and Jim Daly, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2021
Unlike automakers that describe their systems as super or some sort of automatic pilot, Toyota and Lexus have gone with a quieter name: Teammate.
—Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 4 June 2021
Doebele said the pilot told passengers the flight’s automatic pilot function wasn’t working properly and hadn’t been working yesterday, either.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 28 Nov. 2019
Almost as if on automatic pilot, Pike passed to Gilyard for seven yards to the Cincinnati 46.
—Bill Koch, Cincinnati.com, 11 Oct. 2019
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 7 June 2022
The boat’s automatic pilot function was likely to have been engaged, with its radar showing what was nearby.
—Michael Wilson, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
Davì relied on his automatic pilot and took micro naps of 15-to-20 minutes, waking regularly to check the instruments.
—Diane Bellcolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2022
The Sox manager is biding his time before October, making sure everyone gets enough rest (hello, Tim Anderson) and trying to get the bullpen on automatic pilot after another shaky month.
—Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2021
Was this an intervention by a human being or an algorithm on automatic pilot?
—Salvatore J. Cordileone and Jim Daly, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2021
Unlike automakers that describe their systems as super or some sort of automatic pilot, Toyota and Lexus have gone with a quieter name: Teammate.
—Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 4 June 2021
Doebele said the pilot told passengers the flight’s automatic pilot function wasn’t working properly and hadn’t been working yesterday, either.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 28 Nov. 2019
Almost as if on automatic pilot, Pike passed to Gilyard for seven yards to the Cincinnati 46.
—Bill Koch, Cincinnati.com, 11 Oct. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near automatic pilot
Cite this Entry
“Automatic pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automatic%20pilot. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share