Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

automate

/ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.08 in modern English

Syllables: au-to-mate
IPA: /ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/

10

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To replace or enhance human labor with machines.

Example Sentences

"Many offices still need to automate."
"We saved time and money by automating the process."
"In the early '60's a Yoyodyne executive living near L.A. and located someplace in the corporate root-system above supervisor but below vice-president, found himself, at age 39, automated out of a job."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *mn̥tós Proto-Hellenic *mətós Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτος (autómătos) Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτον (autómăton)der. Classical Latin automatum New Latin automaticusbor. English automatic Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ion English automationbf. English automate Back-formation from automation.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/
British English: /ˈɔːtəmeɪt/

Inflected Forms

automates (present, singular) automating (participle, present) automated (participle, past) automated (past)

Derived Forms

automatability automatise informate semiautomate

Frequently Paired Words

automat automatable automatic automation automatization automatize automaton

Synonyms

robotize automatize automatise

Questions

How do you pronounce automate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/.
What does automate mean?: To replace or enhance human labor with machines.
Where does automate come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *mn̥tós Proto-Hellenic *mətós Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτος (autómătos) Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτον (autómăton)der. Classical Latin automatum New Latin automaticusbor. English automatic Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ion English automationbf. English automate Back-formation from automation.

How to pronounce automate

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Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɔ.təˌmeɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “automate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.