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

Raman herself endorsed the mayor’s reelection bid two weeks before jumping into the race.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

She is comparatively unknown to the public, but she may soon find herself in the spotlight.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Epstein paid tens of thousands of dollars for her to train as a pilot, emails between them show, which she apparently did with great enthusiasm, promoting herself on social media as "Global Girl."

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Chow, a lawyer who is representing herself, smiled at supporters who waved enthusiastically from the public gallery as the hearing began, while Lee sat quietly in the dock taking notes with a ballpoint pen.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Greg glanced back as Dot fought to pull herself out of the ravine.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman