personally

American  

[pur-suh-nl-ee] / ˈpɜr sə nl i /

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.

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personally British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of personally

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

Example Sentences

I think the movie’s fantastic, but what I got out of it personally, it was extraordinary.

From Los Angeles Times

After it was first put on the market in 2001 and failed to attract offers, Andrew became personally involved.

From BBC

Days later, Ellison agreed to personally guarantee $40.4 billion in equity financing that Paramount needs.

From Los Angeles Times

Onset used former First Brands executive Edward James for negotiations while allowing him to personally invest in the financings, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for James and outsize returns for Onset, the creditors alleged.

From The Wall Street Journal

On Sunday night, a longtime U.S. envoy known personally to her spelled it out: “Look, find a way. Work toward cooperating with the United States.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• directly
• individually
• privately