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; him, self

Example Sentences

But after promising loan spells at Blackburn and Hull, opportunities dried up under Arne Slot and Morton found himself at a crossroads.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

And that’s why, after the No Kings marches in October, Donald Trump himself posted a video created with artificial intelligence showing him dumping human waste on the protesters.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Since that news, Graham has posted photos of himself shooting clay and doing other community events in South Carolina, and he has threatened sanctions against Spain.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

The 70-year-old pope himself carried a large wooden cross through all 14 stations retracing Jesus Christ's path to the tomb, marking a return to a tradition observed by John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

He saw now how that had served him: In refusing to defend himself, he’d failed to defend Deadwood.

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