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.

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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. 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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of oneself

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

Example Sentences

How about some truth in advertising: The debate’s title should have been “Agitating for Followers: the Art of Calling Attention to Oneself While Saying Absolutely Nothing.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2023

Anne Fadiman’s spring-term seminar, Writing About Oneself, is a survey of British and American memoirs, autobiographies, personal essays, and letters.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 8, 2019

In 1750, when he was comfortably into middle age, Benjamin Franklin wrote a humorous piece setting forth “Rules for Making Oneself a Disagreeable Companion.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2016

By the time Tony takes a soul-searching all-night subway ride to arrive at the story's bogus happy ending, the movie has thrown away its subject to lull us with sentimental bromides about Finding Oneself.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Out of the three Reverences," says Wilhelm Meister, "springs the highest Reverence, Reverence for Oneself."

From The American Mind The E. T. Earl Lectures by Perry, Bliss

Related Words

• character
• ego
• identity
• individuality
• myself
• person
• personality