yourself
Americanpronoun
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(an emphatic appositive of you orye ).
a letter you yourself wrote.
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a reflexive form of you (used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition).
Don't blame yourself. Did you ever ask yourself “why”? You can think for yourself.
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Informal. (used in place of you, especially in compound subjects, objects, and complements).
Ted and yourself have been elected. We saw your sister and yourself at the game. People like yourselves always feel like that.
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(used in absolute constructions).
Yourself having so little money, how could they expect you to help?
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your normal or customary self.
You'll soon be yourself again.
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(used in place of you after as, than, orbut ).
scholars as famous as yourselves; a girl no older than yourself.
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oneself.
The surest way is to do it yourself.
pronoun
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the reflexive form of you
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(intensifier)
you yourself control your destiny
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(preceded by a copula) your normal or usual self
you're not yourself these days
Usage
See myself.
Etymology
Origin of yourself
Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at your, self
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If you’ve found yourself dipping into the current martini craze, you may find yourself with a decent bit of olive juice leftover.
From Salon • Jul. 7, 2026
“It’s conserve and then open up the valves again. Learn how to hold yourself in reserve a little bit and play around with energy—rather than just smash into it.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
At the risk of giving you indigestion, LFS Wealth Advisors in Lenexa, Kan., warns investors such as yourself about the hidden cost of free dinners.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 2026
Somebody would always knock your feet out from under you if you took yourself too seriously.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
“It’s okay. I had a good reason for not going to the grocery store. If you can calm yourself down, I can tell you what it is.”
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
