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

High-level federal authorities likely knew about the CIA activities, although it was possible Sheinbaum herself hadn’t been briefed, said Brian Naranjo, a former senior U.S. diplomat who served in Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The property became what Yolanda described as a “safe haven” for herself, her daughters, and their brother, Anwar, 26, all of whom were raised in Los Angeles.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Blain told the court Thea had been in sleeping in her crib when she went to take a nap herself, but was woken when a neighbour came to the door.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

But Redmond doesn’t consider herself an exhibitionist, either.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

When Tante Jans wished to go some-where, she stationed herself on the sidewalk directly in front of the watch-shop door and, as the horses thundered close, held up a single gloved finger.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom