myself
(used reflexively in place of me as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb): I gave myself a good rubdown. She asked me for a picture of myself.
my normal or customary self: After a few days of rest, I expect to be myself again.
Origin of myself
1usage note For myself
Myself occurs only rarely as a single subject in place of I: Myself was the one who called. The recorded instances of such use are mainly poetic or literary. It is also uncommon as a simple object in place of me : Since the letter was addressed to myself, I opened it. As part of a compound subject, object, or complement, myself and to a lesser extent the other -self forms are common in informal speech and personal writing, somewhat less common in more formal speech and writing: The manager and myself completed the arrangements. Many came to welcome my husband and myself back to Washington.
Myself and other -self forms are also used, alone or with other nouns or pronouns, in constructions after as, than, or but in all varieties of speech and writing: The captain has far more experience than myself in such matters. Orders have arrived for everyone but the orderlies and yourself.
There is ample precedent, going as far back as Chaucer and running through the whole range of British and American literature and other serious formal writing, for all these uses. Many usage guides, however, state that to use myself in any construction in which I or me could be used instead (as My daughter and myself play the flute instead of My daughter and I, or a gift for my husband and myself instead of for my husband and me ) is characteristic only of informal speech and that such use ought not to occur in writing. See also me.
Words Nearby myself
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use myself in a sentence
You know, when I was younger, I used to make problems for myself, like it was too easy.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI was going to do it myself, but was waiting for the new year.
The Insurance Company Promised a Gender Reassignment. Then They Made a Mistake. | James Joiner | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI push down on the pedal with my right leg and instead of propelling myself forward, I topple over sideways.
Walking along the Prado, every time, for better or worse, I pass different versions of myself and of Havana.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind | Brin-Jonathan Butler | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTStill, I found myself agreeing with the older gentleman who saw the room as a sea of gentiles.
I find myself chained to the foot of a woman, my noble Cornelia would despise!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterThere were three young men and four young ladies, of whom three, including myself, were Americans.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayWe had half a dozen passengers to Ferrara; for the rest of the way, I had this extensive traveling establishment to myself.
Glances at Europe | Horace GreeleyMadame and myself had just been regretting that we should have to pass the evening in this miserable hole of a town.
When I come home from the lessons I fling myself on the sofa, and feel as if I never wanted to get up again.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy Fay
British Dictionary definitions for myself
/ (maɪˈsɛlf) /
the reflexive form of I or me
(intensifier): I myself know of no answer
(preceded by a copula) my usual self: I'm not myself today
not standard used instead of I or me in compound noun phrases: John and myself are voting together
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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