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British

my

[ mahy ]

/ maɪ /

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See synonyms for my on Thesaurus.com

pronoun

(a form of the possessive case of I used as an attributive adjective): My soup is cold.

interjection

Also my-my. (used as an exclamation of mild surprise or dismay): My, what a big house this is! My-my, how old he looks!

VIDEO FOR MY

What Is The Origin Of The Word "My"?

One tiny word, two letters, yet it has a long history and a powerful punch. How did we start using "my" as an exclamation?

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WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

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Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

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Origin of my

1125–75; Middle English mī, variant of mīn,Old English mīn;see mine¹

grammar notes for my

See me.

Words nearby my

Mwanza, Mweru, MWP, M.W.T., Mx, my, myalgia, myalgic encephalopathy, myalism, myall, Myanmar

Other definitions for my (2 of 2)

my-

variant of myo- before some vowels: myalgia.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use my in a sentence

Elsewhere, she tells her inamorata, “It does not matter if you elude my arms/my dear, when thought alone can imprison you.”
Sor Juana: Mexico’s Most Erotic Poet and Its Most Dangerous Nun|Katie Baker|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But instead of a witty pop song, we have yet more woe-is-me-feel-my-pain from an overpaid, over-cosseted celebrity.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'|Tim Teeman|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Arab-My 1st mother language is Arabic; My Ethnic background is Arab.
The Israeli Way of Death|Miranda Frum|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like, clap-my-hands-together-in-schoolgirl-like-glee over the moon to see it.
‘Orange Is the New Black’ Season 2: The Finest, Funniest, and Most Terrifying Moments of Eps. 1-6|Kevin Fallon, Marlow Stern|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Save-my-show petitions and campaigns can only do so much to convince executives that a low-rated series deserves reviving.
The ‘Veronica Mars’ Kickstarter Smash: 5 Burning Questions|Kevin Fallon|March 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Stella-my-niece opened her mouth showing astonishment and very pretty teeth.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914|Various
Jehosophat wished he were as small as Hop-o'-my-Thumb, so that he could creep through the keyhole and never be seen at all.
Seven O'Clock Stories|Robert Gordon Anderson
"Now, you wait and see if someone doesn't try to run off with him before we get home," said Stella-my-niece.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914|Various
Then she pointed to a slim object propped against the seat between Stella-my-niece's blue skirt and my own striped garments.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914|Various
“Heathcote, the weather is still cool, and we have all been talking of a grand Follow-my-leader run;” began Newland.
Digby Heathcote|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for my (1 of 4)

my¹

/ (maɪ) /

determiner

of, belonging to, or associated with the speaker or writer (me)my own ideas; do you mind my smoking?

used in various forms of addressmy lord; my dear boy

used in various exclamationsmy goodness!

interjection

an exclamation of surprise, awe, etcmy, how you've grown!

Word Origin for my

C12 mī, variant of Old English mīn when preceding a word beginning with a consonant

British Dictionary definitions for my (2 of 4)

my²

the internet domain name for

Malaysia

British Dictionary definitions for my (3 of 4)

MY

abbreviation for

motor yacht

British Dictionary definitions for my (4 of 4)

my-

combining form

a variant of myo-

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012