by itself

idiom

: 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.

: 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 It can, however, also be subscribed to by itself for just $7.99/month. —

Claire Franken, TVLine, 10 Sep. 2024 But the growth will not by itself meet the current requirements of the Ukrainian military, let alone the much larger requirements of any 2025 offensives. —

Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 8 Aug. 2024 The opening combination would make for a fun show by itself. —

Troy Smith, Axios, 14 Aug. 2024 While the lawsuit by itself likely didn’t finish Quibi off, having to fend off a legal challenge to its key technology was just more kindling for the already growing fire. —

David Pierce, The Verge, 6 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for by itself

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'by itself.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.