herself

American  

[her-self] / hərˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of her or she.

   She herself wrote the letter.

2. a reflexive form of her.

   She supports herself.

3. (used in absolute constructions).

   Herself still only a child, she had to take care of her four younger brothers and sisters.

4. (used as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb).

   She gave herself a facial massage. He asked her for a picture of herself.

5. (used in comparisons after as orthan ).

   She found out that the others were even more nervous than herself.

6. her normal or customary self.

   After a few weeks of rest, she will be herself again.

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herself British  

/ həˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of she or her

   2. (intensifier)

      the queen herself signed the letter

2. (preceded by a copula) her normal or usual self

   she looks herself again after the operation

3. the wife or woman of the house

   is herself at home?

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Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of herself

before 1000; Middle English hire-selfe, Old English hire self. See her, self

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

herself

During a debate about health on Tuesday, AI software was used to recreate the sound of her voice, as it used to be, to read a speech she wrote herself.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Jassim says posting the videos is risky both for herself and for the women concerned.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

She now supports herself by selling handicrafts, making enough to get by in Dali.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

Soon, Wolf started performing at open-mic nights in Queens, trying to “psych” herself out of nerves onstage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

She handles it herself, gives me a wink, and jumps off the front of the stage.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith