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

He prides himself on thinking probabilistically and making decisions based on expected value.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Mr. Armitage distinguishes himself by refusing the fetish of incompleteness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Looksmaxxing's most influential influencer, who calls himself Clavicular, has half a million followers on Instagram and almost 900,000 on TikTok.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

He had always thought himself a composer and could, at a party, make up a clever song at the piano on the spot.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Then to hear a song confirming Clare’s worst fears about himself?

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