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

A difficult Ashes for Ecclestone personally led her to consider quitting, but on the biggest stage she is shining again.

Read more on BBC

This is a stat she personally has worked tirelessly to change.

Read more on Salon

Don’t take sudden moves in your credit score personally.

Read more on MarketWatch

"Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive experience personally and for my family," he said in late January.

Read more on BBC

The first minister said he could "totally accept" the worry and anxiety caused by these circumstances and offered to personally look in to the case.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• directly 
• individually 
• privately www.thesaurus.com