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

Headteacher Julia Polley said AI could give pupils more detailed feedback quickly and without any bias that a teacher might have by knowing the student personally.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

While you and your sibling would not necessarily be personally responsible for the debt, it would depend in the end on how your mom’s accounts are titled.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

You may personally find some of them terrible, but most are bearable and all are virtually inevitable.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Ms. Ballard told a Journal reporter that she “did not personally use AI” while writing “Shy Girl,” but an acquaintance she hired to edit the original, self-published edition did.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“Not him personally, of course. Happening, I mean. At the chevra kadisha, the volunteers who prepare women...A twelve-year-old girl...”

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• directly
• individually
• privately