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.

---

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?

---

Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of herself

before 1000; Middle English hire-selfe, Old English hire self. See her, self

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

herself

Ramírez considered herself one of the creative directors of the cohort, masterminding video shoots and making sure their social media marketing stayed consistent with the festival’s branding.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

The adaptation is set to be released in January 2027, but Adeyemi has already distanced herself from the project.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Two months before Alexis died in May 2000, Lieberson was informed that she herself had cancer, and later underwent a double lumpectomy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Holding an umbrella to protect herself from the sun, she heads there early in the morning to make sure she is first in line.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Gingersnipes pulled herself free and brushed tea from her belly.

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