yourself

[ yoor-self, yawr-, yohr-, yer- ]

pronoun

, plural your·selves [y, oo, r-, selvz, yawr-, yohr-, yer-].

1. (an emphatic appositive of you or ye ¹ ):

   a letter you yourself wrote.

2. a reflexive form of you (used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition):

   Don't blame yourself. Did you ever ask yourself “why”? You can think for yourself.

3. Informal. (used in place of you, especially in compound subjects, objects, and complements):

   Ted and yourself have been elected. We saw your sister and yourself at the game. People like yourselves always feel like that.

4. (used in absolute constructions):

   Yourself having so little money, how could they expect you to help?

5. your normal or customary self:

   You'll soon be yourself again.

6. (used in place of you after as, than, or but ):

   scholars as famous as yourselves; a girl no older than yourself.

7. oneself:

   The surest way is to do it yourself.

yourself

/ jɔːˈsɛlf; jʊə- /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of you
   2. (intensifier)

      you yourself control your destiny

2. preceded by a copula your normal or usual self

   you're not yourself these days

Usage Note

See myself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of yourself¹

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; your, self

Example Sentences

"You have to push yourself to where the margins are so small and you're right on the limit of execution," he said.

From BBC

In his message, Kay told him: "Get across that finishing line and get yourself a nice garlic bread. This is the way to Glasgowrilla!"

From BBC

“When you’re 16 and you don’t really like yourself, and you’re trying to figure out what the hell is gong on in your body and your makeup and your hormones, and people are telling you that you’re not good enough — that weight is so heavy,” Sweeney said at the time.

From Los Angeles Times

The combination of visuals and the audio and the haptics of the seats — all of those things were brought to bear to try and basically turn on its head the whole idea of suspension of disbelief, so that you’re having to remind yourself that it’s not real, as opposed to pretending that it is.

From Los Angeles Times

“In the attention economy … anything that gives you an advantage in terms of differentiating yourself,” Perren said.

From Los Angeles Times