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Synonyms

oneself

American  
[wuhn-self, wuhnz-] / wʌnˈsɛlf, wʌnz- /
Archaic, one's self

pronoun

  1. a person's self (used for emphasis or reflexively).

    One often hurts oneself accidentally.

idioms

  1. by oneself,

    1. without a companion; alone.

    2. through one's own efforts; unaided.

      to become a millionaire by oneself.

  2. be oneself,

    1. to be in one's normal state of mind or physical condition.

    2. to be unaffected and sincere.

      One makes more friends by being oneself than by putting on airs.

  3. come to oneself, Also come to one's self

    1. Also come to. to regain consciousness.

    2. to regain one's self-possession; come to one's senses.

oneself British  
/ wʌnˈsɛlf /

pronoun

    1. the reflexive form of one one

    2. (intensifier)

      one doesn't do that oneself

  2. (preceded by a copula) one's normal or usual self

    one doesn't feel oneself after such an experience
"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
oneself More Idioms  

  1. see avail (oneself) of; be oneself; beside oneself; burn (oneself) out; by oneself; cover one's ass (oneself); crank (oneself) up; do oneself in; excuse me (oneself); exert oneself; explain oneself; express oneself; fall all over (oneself); feel like oneself; find oneself; flatter oneself; fling oneself at; forget oneself; full of oneself; get a grip on (oneself); give a good account of oneself; give of oneself; give (oneself) away; give oneself up; have oneself; hear oneself think; help oneself; keep to oneself; kick oneself; knock oneself out; law unto oneself; lay (oneself) open; leave (oneself) open; let (oneself) go; live with (oneself); lose oneself in; make a laughingstock of oneself; make a name for oneself; make an exhibition of oneself; make a nuisance of oneself; make a pig of oneself; make oneself at home; make oneself scarce; not oneself; paint oneself into a corner; plume oneself; pride oneself on; pull oneself together; pull oneself up; put oneself out; relieve oneself; repeat oneself; shift for oneself; shoot oneself in the foot; spread oneself too thin; suit oneself; sure of oneself; take it upon oneself; throw oneself at; tie oneself in knots; trouble one's head (oneself) about.

Etymology

Origin of oneself

First recorded in 1540–50; shortened form of one's 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.

Creation comes naturally to both of them; playing with personal aesthetics is a means of liberating oneself from the status quo.

From Salon

Is it self-awareness — the ability to recognize oneself as a distinct entity moving through time?

From Los Angeles Times

The fair can be overstimulating, but it’s still important to traverse the maze of booths at Santa Monica Airport to acquaint oneself with the best art galleries the world has to offer from Feb. 26 to March 1.

From Los Angeles Times

The challenge is to position oneself deliberately between these extremes.

From Barron's

The great arbitrage of the 21st century is to preserve openness without surrendering agency and to assert sovereignty without cutting oneself from technology, markets, and ideas.

From Barron's

Definitions 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.