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

"The biggest compliment you can pay Harry Kane is to ask yourself how long we've been pondering the question 'what will England do if Harry Kane gets injured?',"

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

And, yes, the desire to do things yourself is understandable, if sometimes regrettable.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

What did you learn about yourself throughout the process?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

When he first took the allegations to Cornell’s Title IX office, staff told him “it might be worth resolving this yourself or just graduating,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

"Herbert Thatcher, you go cut that rhubarb, or you can cook this meal yourself."

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville