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
During the 1950s, the U.S. military was using magnetic amplifiers in automatic pilots, fire-control apparatus, servo systems, radar and sonar equipment, the RIM-2 Terrier surface-to-air missile, and many other roles.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2022
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
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IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2022
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
Cite this Entry
“Automatic pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automatic%20pilot. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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