automatic pilot

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The sailboat crew were either unable to avoid collision” or they could have been down below with Theros on automatic pilot, an anonymous source told Saltwire.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2024

Stupid, probably, but when you’re in shock, it’s like you’re on automatic pilot.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 9, 2021

Complacency and dependency on an automatic pilot seems to be a root cause of those accidents, too.

From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2018

As for Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark and Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan, who jointly serve as Parker's mentors, their portrayals feel on automatic pilot as often as not.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2017

Our shuttle, which seemed to be flying on automatic pilot, quickly reached the planet and began to skim its mirrored surface.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline