himself

American  

[him-self, im-self] / hɪmˈsɛlf, ɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of him or he.

   He himself spoke to the men.

2. a reflexive form of him.

   He cut himself.

3. (used in absolute constructions).

   Himself the soul of honor, he included many rascals among his intimates.

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

   The old car had room only for himself and three others.

5. (used in comparisons after as orthan ).

   His wife is as stingy as himself.

6. his normal or customary self.

   He is himself again.

7. Irish English. a man of importance, especially the master of the house.

   Himself will be wanting an early dinner.

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himself British  

/ ɪmˈsɛlf, hɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of he or him

   2. (intensifier)

      the king himself waved to me

2. (preceded by a copula) his normal or usual self

   he seems himself once more

3. the man of the house

   how is himself?

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Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of himself

before 900; Middle English him selven, Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self he himself; see him, self

Example Sentences

King recalled: “He had transformed himself, and he had gotten all the moves down.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

The other man armed himself with a hammer in self-defense, police said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

"Taylor was such an energetic presence, he just brought himself so much."

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

In addition to an extensive leadership shake-up that included the appointment of DeVedyt himself, UnitedHealth has sought to recover margins in its Medicare Advantage business, the government-subsidized health insurance program for seniors.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Clare braced himself on the dining table, his knobby knees trembling.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman