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

“Ask yourself a vastly more important question. Do you really think Kash Patel is qualified to lead the world’s preeminent law enforcement investigative organization?” he wrote on X. “Obvious answer: hell no.”

From Los Angeles Times

Bode quoted some of the jabs she had read online, from insensitive quips like “Stand up for yourself” to more “aggressive” and “very gross” comments suggesting that Nessarose “deserves her disability.”

From Los Angeles Times

A partnership can help relieve some of the pressures and expenses of being in business by yourself.

From Salon

“It can be hard watching yourself on screen, especially when you’re going through your own evolution of thinking and feeling,” Story says.

From Los Angeles Times

“You measure yourself on where we’ve been, where we are and how far we need to go,” says McQueen.

From Los Angeles Times