himself

American  

[him-self, im-self] / hɪmˈsɛlf, ɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of him or he.

   He himself spoke to the men.

2. a reflexive form of him.

   He cut himself.

3. (used in absolute constructions).

   Himself the soul of honor, he included many rascals among his intimates.

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

   The old car had room only for himself and three others.

5. (used in comparisons after as orthan ).

   His wife is as stingy as himself.

6. his normal or customary self.

   He is himself again.

7. Irish English. a man of importance, especially the master of the house.

   Himself will be wanting an early dinner.

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himself British  

/ ɪmˈsɛlf, hɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of he or him

   2. (intensifier)

      the king himself waved to me

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

   he seems himself once more

3. the man of the house

   how is himself?

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Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of himself

before 900; Middle English him selven, Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self he himself; see him, self

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

himself

If Russell could not do so, they said, they would "invert the cars" - put Antonelli into the lead to try himself.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

It’s a defense so potentially good, defensive tackle Aaron Donald willingly threw himself back into the grind after two years out of the game to join it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

"I wanted to show that the journalist who captures suffering for the world is himself living through that same tragedy behind the lens," wrote Hassouna, who remains in Gaza.

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

How did Musk himself respond to the article?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

My dad goes to open it, but not before he takes a deep breath and composes himself.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold