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.

---

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?

---

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

Such was the distance all attacked far too early, and it was McNulty - a time triallist and domestique to Pogacar by trade - who took off and emptied himself.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Leo is increasingly positioning himself as a champion of the fading international order.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

Pattinson portrays Hansen as a caricature of himself, accentuating the journalist’s unmistakable vocal cadence to remove any distance between “To Catch a Predator” and the man behind the show.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

During offseason workouts and training camp, he established himself as a leader and was voted a team captain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

He doesn’t tear me down, make me do things he himself is afraid to do.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam