VOLUNTARILY

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does voluntarily mean? 

• VOLUNTARILY (adverb)
  The adverb VOLUNTARILY has 1 sense:

1. out of your own free will

  Familiarity information: VOLUNTARILY used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VOLUNTARILY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Out of your own free will

Context example:

he voluntarily submitted to the fingerprinting

Antonym:

involuntarily (against your will)

Pertainym:

voluntary (of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled)

 Context examples 

Harriet was not insensible of manner; she had voluntarily noticed her father's gentleness with admiration as well as wonder.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The agony of grief which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought for, was created again and again.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He wondered that Fanny spoke so seldom of her, and had so little voluntarily to say of her concern at this separation.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Her astonishment at his coming—at his coming to Netherfield, to Longbourn, and voluntarily seeking her again, was almost equal to what she had known on first witnessing his altered behaviour in Derbyshire.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

A method of learning to voluntarily control certain body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and muscle tension with the help of a special machine.

(Biofeedback, NCI Dictionary)

I rested my temples on the breast of temptation, and put my neck voluntarily under her yoke of flowers.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

As he told Martin, he had once gone three days without water, had done so voluntarily, in order to experience the exquisite delight of such a thirst assuaged.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

At half past twelve, when Catherine's anxious attention to the weather was over and she could no longer claim any merit from its amendment, the sky began voluntarily to clear.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

At last he lay at the master's feet, into whose possession he now surrendered himself, voluntarily, body and soul.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Saturn will not force you to make a career choice—you will move into this new role voluntarily because you will see the long-range benefits of doing so.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)