# involuntary

/ˌɪnˈvɑɫənˌtɛɹi/ (US) · /ɪnvˈɒləntəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/involuntary
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

something that happens without you choosing to do it. You use this to describe a movement or action your body makes on its own.

For teachers: done without conscious control or intention; occurring as a reflex or automatic response. Often used in medical or physiological contexts to describe muscle movements.

## Examples

- A sneeze is an involuntary reaction to dust.
- The patient experienced involuntary muscle spasms in his left leg after the long surgery.
- While some physical responses are purely involuntary, others can be partially regulated through deep breathing and focused mindfulness techniques.

## Pitfalls

- Not "an involuntary of the hand" but "an involuntary movement of the hand" — Involuntary is an adjective and must modify a noun; it cannot be used as a noun itself.

## Usage notes

- Often appears before nouns like 'action', 'response', 'muscle', or 'movement'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.