personally

American  

[pur-suh-nl-ee] / ˈpɜr sə nl i /

adverb

1. through direct contact; in person; directly.

   I will thank him personally.

2. as if intended for or directed at one's own person.

   to take someone's comments personally.

3. as regards oneself.

   Personally, I don't care to go.

4. as an individual.

   to like someone personally, but not as an employer.

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personally British  

/ ˈpɜːsənəlɪ /

adverb

1. without the help or intervention of others

   I'll attend to it personally

2. (sentence modifier) in one's own opinion or as regards oneself

   personally, I hate onions

3. as if referring to oneself

   to take the insults personally

4. as a person

   we like him personally, but professionally he's incompetent

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Etymology

Origin of personally

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; personal + -ly

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Explanation

When you do something personally, you do it yourself. If you promise you'll personally sell Girl Scout cookies to your neighbors, you can't just put flyers in their mailboxes or make your brother knock on their doors. Doing things personally means doing them in person, often not involving anyone else. If the grand prize of a contest involves your favorite movie star personally driving you around Hollywood in a Rolls Royce, it means she'll be the one behind the wheel. Another way to use this word is to mean "privately," as when someone's work life is great but they're really struggling personally. You can also use personally to refer to yourself: "Personally, I prefer vanilla ice cream."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

personally

It can also change what we remember, particularly when an experience is emotionally intense or personally meaningful.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

"I personally don't think he will go," says McCarthy.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon suggested on his bank’s analyst call that he personally thought the fourth quarter might defy the usual seasonal slowdown.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

They wrote the album during a rough time personally, as they struggled to get out of a stymied label deal that cost them four years between records.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

He waved off their coachman so that he might personally help Penelope into the carriage.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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Related Words

• directly
• individually
• privately

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