herself

[ her-self ]

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of her or she:

   She herself wrote the letter.

2. a reflexive form of her:

   She supports herself.

3. (used in absolute constructions):

   Herself still only a child, she had to take care of her four younger brothers and sisters.

4. (used as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb):

   She gave herself a facial massage. He asked her for a picture of herself.

5. (used in comparisons after as or than ):

   She found out that the others were even more nervous than herself.

6. her normal or customary self:

   After a few weeks of rest, she will be herself again.

herself

/ həˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of she or her
   2. (intensifier)

      the queen herself signed the letter

2. preceded by a copula her normal or usual self

   she looks herself again after the operation

3. the wife or woman of the house

   is herself at home?

Usage Note

See myself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of herself¹

before 1000; Middle English hire-selfe, Old English hire self. See her, self

Example Sentences

Sweeney, who did not reference Baum by name, told the magazine she’s just trying her best to continue making a name for herself.

From Los Angeles Times

Helen says she was terrified to find herself so far from home and unable to talk to anyone about what had happened.

From BBC

In December, Li started a Xiaohongshu account marketing herself as a “Rainbow Lawyer.”

From Los Angeles Times

Watts is herself writing a book on menopause while Berry is pushing for new legislation to promote its research, training and education.

From BBC

She falls through a rack of dresses and finds herself in a fantastical world, where she revisits moments in her life - from childhood through to teenage years and adulthood.

From BBC