oneself

[ wuhn-self, wuhnz- ]

pronoun

1. a person's self (used for emphasis or reflexively):

   One often hurts oneself accidentally.

oneself

/ wʌnˈsɛlf /

pronoun

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

      one doesn't do that oneself

2. preceded by a copula one's normal or usual self

   one doesn't feel oneself after such an experience

Word History and Origins

Origin of oneself¹

First recorded in 1540–50; shortened form of one's self

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be oneself,
   1. to be in one's normal state of mind or physical condition.
   2. to be unaffected and sincere:

      One makes more friends by being oneself than by putting on airs.

2. by oneself,
   1. without a companion; alone.
   2. through one's own efforts; unaided:

      to become a millionaire by oneself.

3. come to oneself, Also come to one's self.
   1. Also come to. to regain consciousness.
   2. to regain one's self-possession; come to one's senses.

More idioms and phrases containing oneself

see avail (oneself) of ; be oneself ; beside oneself ; burn (oneself) out ; by oneself ; cover one's ass (oneself) ; crank (oneself) up ; do oneself in ; excuse me (oneself) ; exert oneself ; explain oneself ; express oneself ; fall all over (oneself) ; feel like oneself ; find oneself ; flatter oneself ; fling oneself at ; forget oneself ; full of oneself ; get a grip on (oneself) ; give a good account of oneself ; give of oneself ; give (oneself) away ; give oneself up ; have oneself ; hear oneself think ; help oneself ; keep to oneself ; kick oneself ; knock oneself out ; law unto oneself ; lay (oneself) open ; leave (oneself) open ; let (oneself) go ; live with (oneself) ; lose oneself in ; make a laughingstock of oneself ; make a name for oneself ; make an exhibition of oneself ; make a nuisance of oneself ; make a pig of oneself ; make oneself at home ; make oneself scarce ; not oneself ; paint oneself into a corner ; plume oneself ; pride oneself on ; pull oneself together ; pull oneself up ; put oneself out ; relieve oneself ; repeat oneself ; shift for oneself ; shoot oneself in the foot ; spread oneself too thin ; suit oneself ; sure of oneself ; take it upon oneself ; throw oneself at ; tie oneself in knots ; trouble one's head (oneself) about .

Example Sentences

“To have someone who can challenge you and go back and forth verbally and have it turn into something that’s not violent is a way of improving oneself.”

From Los Angeles Times

And historically, for Black people, that involves making oneself or one’s presence adjacent to whiteness.

From Slate

With more than 70% of American adults affected by obesity or overweight — conditions that increase risk for heart attack, stroke and premature death — these findings suggested that injecting oneself with Ozempic, or any number of the other brands semaglutide are sold under, could offer significant long-term health benefits.

From Los Angeles Times

Others emphasized the allure of returning to nature and immersing oneself in a more “primitive way of being.”

From Slate

All that is repellent in oneself and one’s tribe is projected onto a devalued other.

From Salon

Related Words

• character
• ego
• identity
• individuality
• myself
• person
• personality