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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of personally

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

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

“I’ve personally found the most effective approach has been to consistently talk about, and ask about, the decisions they are making,” Zasada said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

An unusual, last-minute decision was made for Blanche to personally interview Epstein’s imprisoned co-defendant Ghislaine Maxwell.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Discovery, personally guaranteeing $40.4 billion to support the offer.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The judge agreed, and for a moment Hale personally buttonholed Burkhart in the courtroom, the plot unfolding this time right in front of White.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• directly
• individually
• privately