personally

[pur-suh-nl-ee]

adverb

1. through direct contact; in person; directly.

   I will thank him personally.

2. as if intended for or directed at one's own person.

   to take someone's comments personally.

3. as regards oneself.

   Personally, I don't care to go.

4. as an individual.

   to like someone personally, but not as an employer.

personally

/ ˈpɜːsənəlɪ /

adverb

1. without the help or intervention of others

   I'll attend to it personally

2. (sentence modifier) in one's own opinion or as regards oneself

   personally, I hate onions

3. as if referring to oneself

   to take the insults personally

4. as a person

   we like him personally, but professionally he's incompetent

Word History and Origins

Origin of personally¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; personal + -ly

Example Sentences

Enthralled, I personally commissioned David Stockman, Ronald Reagan’s own legendary budget cutter, to map out how it could be done.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He has proven extraordinarily resilient, both personally and politically.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Everything I write is personally inspired… I've taken the themes of my life and the emotions of my life," James has said.

Read more on BBC

Ms Javadli and David Haigh say that Dubai portrays itself as promoting women's rights and encouraging women - whether from the UAE or from outside - to lead fulfilling lives, both professionally and personally.

Read more on BBC

Kennedy told the New York Times on Thursday that he personally directed the CDC to change its website to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• directly 
• individually 
• privately www.thesaurus.com