yourself

American  

[yoor-self, yawr-, yohr-, yer-] / jʊərˈsɛlf, jɔr-, joʊr-, jər- /

pronoun

• yourselves
  plural

1. (an emphatic appositive of you orye ).

   a letter you yourself wrote.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. (used in absolute constructions).

   Yourself having so little money, how could they expect you to help?

5. your normal or customary self.

   You'll soon be yourself again.

6. (used in place of you after as, than, orbut ).

   scholars as famous as yourselves; a girl no older than yourself.

7. oneself.

   The surest way is to do it yourself.

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yourself British  

/ jɔːˈsɛlf, jʊə- /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of you

   2. (intensifier)

      you yourself control your destiny

2. (preceded by a copula) your normal or usual self

   you're not yourself these days

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Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of yourself

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at your, self

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

yourself

“There’s certain parts of yourself that cannot make it to the workplace,” Shaw said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Olsen: And I’m wondering, I can only imagine you don’t walk around thinking of yourself —

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

At this point in the game, with your solid financial position, you are buying yourself options.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

Sometimes you enter the store with an idea and let yourself be talked out of it by a vegetable.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

“I hope you’re proud of yourself, because I sure am.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam