by itself

idiom

1

: without being directly controlled by a person : automatically

The computer shuts off by itself if you haven't used it for a while.

The sprinkler will turn on by itself.

2

: with nothing nearby : alone

The house stood by itself at the end of the street.

Examples of by itself in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, a failure to investigate does not, by itself, establish actual malice. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 July 2025

With many customers now willing to leave a brand after just two or three bad experiences, transferring someone to several agents could potentially cause that brand-switching by itself. —Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

Kennedy’s speech could not by itself settle the Cuban missile crisis. —Richard Cherwitz, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025

The order set the stage for her historic ruling in May that the city can’t run the system by itself — an outside manager was needed as well. —Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025

Rhymes for by itself

• ourself
• bookshelf
• herself
• himself
• hisself
• meself
• myself
• nonself
• oneself
• thyself
• yourself
• elf