If you make an involuntary movement or exclamation, you make it suddenly and without intending to because you are unable to control yourself.
Another surge of pain in my ankle caused me to give an involuntary shudder.
Synonyms: unintentional, automatic, unconscious, spontaneous More Synonyms of involuntary
involuntarily (ɪnvɒləntrəli, US -teərɪli)adverb [ADVERB with verb]
His left eyelid twitched involuntarily.
2. adjective
You use involuntary to describe an action or situation which is forced on someone.
...insurance policies that cover involuntary unemployment.
Involuntary servitude shall never exist in any part of the territory.
More Synonyms of involuntary
involuntary in British English
(ɪnˈvɒləntərɪ, -trɪ)
adjective
1.
carried out without one's conscious wishes; not voluntary; unintentional
2. physiology
(esp of a movement or muscle) performed or acting without conscious control
Derived forms
involuntarily (inˈvoluntarily)
adverb
involuntariness (inˈvoluntariness)
noun
involuntary in American English
(ɪnˈvɑlənˌtɛri)
adjective
not voluntary
; specif.,
a.
not done of one's own free will; not done by choice
b.
unintentional; accidental
c.
not consciously controlled; automatic
sneezing is involuntary
SIMILAR WORDS: sponˈtaneous
Derived forms
involuntarily (inˈvolunˌtarily)
adverb
involuntariness (inˈvolunˌtariness)
noun
Word origin
LL involuntarius
Examples of 'involuntary' in a sentence
involuntary
Sticking up his hand was a purely involuntary action.
The Sun (2015)
He explained that he suffered from a medical condition that led to sudden involuntary movements of the arm.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If the brain becomes damaged by infection or other disease, involuntary movements become increasingly likely.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
The eyes are sensitive to light too, and there are often visual problems as well as involuntary eye movements.
The Sun (2012)
See involuntary muscles, antagonistic muscles.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
As I grasped the cage another surge of pain in my ankle caused me to give an involuntary shudder.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
See antagonistic muscles, involuntary muscles, voluntary muscles.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
Stress plays a large part in this, as your mind focuses on scenarios that have challenged you and anxiety can be reflected in various involuntary movements.
The Sun (2013)
The involuntary movements, usually of face and neck, are often preceded by psychiatric problems and a change of character.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
HD is a widely misunderstood condition: symptoms include involuntary muscular movements, memory lapses and mood changes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
At least that's one explanation for the involuntary shudder I experienced as my son began pointing and shouting.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
involuntary
British English: involuntary ADJECTIVE
If you make an involuntary movement or exclamation, you make it suddenly and without intending to.
Another surge of pain in my ankle caused me to give an involuntary shudder.
American English: involuntary
Brazilian Portuguese: involuntário
Chinese: 不由自主的
European Spanish: involuntario
French: involontaire
German: unbeabsichtigt
Italian: involontario
Japanese: 無意識の
Korean: 부지불식간의
European Portuguese: involuntário
Latin American Spanish: involuntario
1 (adjective)
Definition
(esp. of a movement or muscle) performed or acting without conscious control
A surge of pain caused me to give an involuntary shudder.
Synonyms
unintentional
There are moments of unintentional humour.
automatic
the automatic body functions, such as breathing
unconscious
‘You're well out of it,’ he said with unconscious brutality.
spontaneous
I joined in the spontaneous applause.
reflex
I turned to look inside the house in a reflex action.
instinctive
It's an instinctive reaction. If a child falls you pick it up.
uncontrolled
unthinking
Bruce was no unthinking vandal.
instinctual
blind
I went into a blind panic.
unconditioned
Opposites
voluntary
, deliberate,
intentional
,
planned
,
purposed
,
calculated
,
wilful
,
volitional
2 (adjective)
Involuntary repatriations began this week.
Synonyms
compulsory
compulsory military conscription
forced
a system of forced labour
mandatory
Attendance is mandatory.
required
This book is required reading.
binding
a legally binding commitment
imperative
It's imperative to know your rights at such a time.
obligatory
Third-party insurance is obligatory when driving in Italy.
requisite
She filled in the requisite paperwork.
de rigueur (French)
T-shirts now seem almost de rigueur in even the smartest places.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of automatic
Definition
done without conscious thought
the automatic body functions, such as breathing
Synonyms
involuntary,
natural,
unconscious,
mechanical,
spontaneous,
reflex,
instinctive,
instinctual,
unwilled
in the sense of binding
Definition
imposing an obligation or duty
a legally binding commitment
Synonyms
compulsory,
necessary,
mandatory,
imperative,
obligatory,
conclusive,
irrevocable,
unalterable,
indissoluble
in the sense of blind
I went into a blind panic.
Synonyms
unthinking,
wild,
violent,
rash,
reckless,
irrational,
hasty,
senseless,
mindless,
uncontrollable,
uncontrolled,
unchecked,
impetuous,
intemperate,
unconstrained
Nearby words of
involuntary
invocation
invoice
invoke
involuntary
involve
involved
involved in something
Synonyms of 'involuntary'
involuntary
Explore 'involuntary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of de rigueur
Definition
required by fashion
T-shirts now seem almost de rigueur in even the smartest places.
Synonyms
necessary,
right,
required,
fitting,
correct,
done,
conventional,
decent,
proper,
decorous,
the done thing,
comme il faut
in the sense of forced
Definition
done because of force
a system of forced labour
Synonyms
compulsory,
enforced,
slave,
unwilling,
mandatory,
obligatory,
involuntary,
conscripted
in the sense of imperative
Definition
extremely urgent
It's imperative to know your rights at such a time.
Synonyms
urgent,
essential,
pressing,
vital,
crucial (informal),
compulsory,
indispensable,
obligatory,
exigent
in the sense of instinctive
Definition
done or happening without any logical thought
It's an instinctive reaction. If a child falls you pick it up.
Synonyms
natural,
inborn,
automatic,
unconscious,
mechanical,
native,
inherent,
spontaneous,
reflex,
innate,
intuitive,
subconscious,
involuntary,
visceral,
unthinking,
instinctual,
unlearned,
hard-wired,
unpremeditated,
intuitional
in the sense of mandatory
Definition
obligatory
Attendance is mandatory.
Synonyms
compulsory,
required,
binding,
obligatory,
requisite
in the sense of obligatory
Definition
required or compulsory because of custom or law
Third-party insurance is obligatory when driving in Italy.
Synonyms
compulsory,
required,
necessary,
essential,
demanded,
binding,
enforced,
prescribed,
statutory,
mandatory,
imperative,
unavoidable,
requisite,
inescapable,
coercive,
OB,
de rigueur
in the sense of reflex
Definition
of or caused by a reflex
I turned to look inside the house in a reflex action.
Synonyms
automatic,
spontaneous,
instinctive,
involuntary,
impulsive,
knee-jerk,
unthinking
in the sense of required
This book is required reading.
Synonyms
obligatory,
prescribed,
compulsory,
mandatory,
needed,
set,
demanded,
necessary,
called for,
essential,
recommended,
vital,
unavoidable,
requisite,
de rigueur
in the sense of requisite
Definition
absolutely essential
She filled in the requisite paperwork.
Synonyms
necessary,
needed,
required,
called for,
essential,
vital,
mandatory,
indispensable,
obligatory,
prerequisite,
needful
in the sense of spontaneous
Definition
not planned or arranged
I joined in the spontaneous applause.
Synonyms
unplanned,
impromptu,
unprompted,
willing,
free,
natural,
voluntary,
instinctive,
impulsive,
unforced,
unbidden,
unconstrained,
unpremeditated,
extempore,
uncompelled
Additional synonyms
in the sense of unconscious
Definition
not realized or intended
‘You're well out of it,’ he said with unconscious brutality.