involuntarily
gb/ˌɪnvˌɑləntˈɚəli/ us/ˌɪnvˌɑləntˈɚəli/
B2
Anglais
~ 7300
Sens
0 sens
adverb
B2
property
1
without intending or controlling it
When you do something without meaning to and without thinking about it, often because your body reacts by itself.
Schéma d’usage :
to [verb] involuntarily
Erreur fréquente :
Learners often confuse "involuntarily" with "unwillingly". "Involuntarily" means something happens without intention or control (for example, a reflex or sudden reaction), while "unwillingly" means you do something you do not want to do, but you still choose to do it. Another confusion is with "accidentally": "accidentally" is about not planning something, while "involuntarily" often suggests the body or mind reacts by itself.
Synonymes
unintentionally (Focuses mainly on lack of intention; does not always suggest an automatic or bodily reaction.)
|
automatically (Suggests something happens by itself; can be less focused on lack of choice than "involuntarily".)
Antonymes
deliberately (Clearly expresses that something is done with full intention and control, the opposite of involuntary action.)
|
consciously (Stresses awareness and mental control, contrasting with actions that happen without conscious control.)
Collocations
smile involuntarily
|laugh involuntarily
|flinch involuntarily
|shudder involuntarily
|gasp involuntarily
|tremble involuntarily
Thèmes
emotions
|body
|daily life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She smiled involuntarily when she heard his voice.
- He flinched involuntarily as the balloon burst behind him.
- My eyes filled with tears involuntarily during the sad scene.
- Her hand moved involuntarily toward the door when she heard the scream.
- I found myself involuntarily holding my breath as the plane took off.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She laughed involuntarily when she saw the funny video.
- He closed his eyes involuntarily when the light got very bright.
- The child cried involuntarily when he fell down.
- I shook involuntarily because I was so cold.
- My hand moved involuntarily when I touched the hot pan.
adverb
formal
C1
property
2
without consent, under compulsion
Done without a person’s free choice, because they are forced or strongly pressured by other people or by the law.
Schéma d’usage :
to be [verb]-ed involuntarily
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use "involuntarily" when they mean "reluctantly" or "unwillingly". "Involuntarily" in this sense usually implies no real choice or consent (often legal or physical force), while "reluctantly" means you choose to do something but do not really want to.
Synonymes
under duress (Legal/formal phrase that stresses the presence of pressure or threats causing the action.)
|
against one’s will (More everyday phrase that directly states the lack of consent; slightly less formal than "involuntarily" in legal contexts.)
Antonymes
voluntarily (Direct, common opposite meaning that something is done by free choice and consent.)
|
willingly (Stresses not only free choice but also a positive or accepting attitude, the opposite of being forced.)
Collocations
involuntarily committed
|involuntarily hospitalized
|involuntarily relocated
|involuntarily displaced
|involuntarily retired
|involuntarily resettled
Thèmes
law
|society
|work
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The workers claimed they had been transferred involuntarily to another branch.
- He was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital after the court hearing.
- Many residents were involuntarily displaced when the dam project began.
- Some employees were involuntarily retired due to company downsizing.
- The refugees were involuntarily resettled far from their home region.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The man said he was taken to the hospital involuntarily.
- Many people were moved involuntarily when the new road was built.
- She lost her job involuntarily because the company closed.
- They were kept in the camp involuntarily for many months.
- He joined the army involuntarily because there was no other choice.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
involuntarily
API
GB/ˌɪnvˌɑləntˈɚəli/
US/ˌɪnvˌɑləntˈɚəli/
Syllabes et accentuation
in - vol - un - tar - ily (5 syllabes)
Stress on 4th syllable (tar)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: involuntarily
- Plural: involuntarilies
Famille de mots
Forms
involuntarilies
noun
Core family
Related words
volunteer
noun A2
Advanced or less common
volition
noun
Expressions
Aucune expression n’est encore associée à cette entrée.