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
The herb can be found by itself or in combination with other supplements known to affect brain health.
—
Alex Yampolsky, Health, 3 Jan. 2025
In other words, when taken orally by itself, not much of it is absorbed in the digestive tract.
—Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024
Slurp it by itself or over rice to soak up all of the tongue-tingling sauce.
12.
—Margaux Laskey, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Orca observed hunting and killing a great white shark by itself for the first time
Usually, orcas hang and hunt in pods, but this solitary creature with a taste for blood took on one of Earth’s most formidable predators all by itself.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Dec. 2024
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Alex Yampolsky, Health, 3 Jan. 2025
In other words, when taken orally by itself, not much of it is absorbed in the digestive tract.
—Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024
Slurp it by itself or over rice to soak up all of the tongue-tingling sauce.
12.
—Margaux Laskey, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Orca observed hunting and killing a great white shark by itself for the first time
Usually, orcas hang and hunt in pods, but this solitary creature with a taste for blood took on one of Earth’s most formidable predators all by itself.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for by itself
Dictionary Entries Near by itself
Cite this Entry
“By itself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20itself. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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