itself
Americanpronoun
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a reflexive form of it.
The battery recharges itself.
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an emphatic appositive of it, which, that, this, or a noun.
which itself is also true; Even without flowers, the bowl itself is beautiful.
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(used as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb).
The chameleon's ability to change color is a protection for itself.
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its normal or customary self.
After much tender care, the puppy was soon itself again.
pronoun
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the reflexive form of it 1
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(intensifier)
even the money itself won't convince me
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(preceded by a copula) its normal or usual self
my cat isn't itself today
Usage
See myself.
Etymology
Origin of itself
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hit self. See it 1, self
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Habba’s record as the president’s personal attorney speaks for itself.
From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026
His attachment to the city extends beyond the property itself.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
The cash for the metals sector comes as the Canadian government finds itself in a dispute with Cleveland-Cliffs over the U.S. steel maker’s plan to lay off workers at its Ontario plants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Nowadays, the paper too is manufactured in Huixcolotla, which prides itself on controlling the entire process.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Ba’s mouth worked itself in a sort of contained pique, but he didn’t say anything.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
