yourself

[ yoor-self, yawr-, yohr-, yer- ]

pronoun,plural your·selves [yoor-selvz, yawr-, yohr-, yer-]. /yʊərˈsɛlvz, yɔr-, yoʊr-, yər-/.
  1. (an emphatic appositive of you or ye1): 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.

  1. 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.

  2. (used in absolute constructions): Yourself having so little money, how could they expect you to help?

  3. your normal or customary self: You'll soon be yourself again.

  4. (used in place of you after as, than, or but): scholars as famous as yourselves; a girl no older than yourself.

  5. oneself: The surest way is to do it yourself.

Origin of yourself

1
Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at your, self

usage note For yourself

See myself.

Words Nearby yourself

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use yourself in a sentence

  • Terror drives you on; fate coerces you; you can't help yourself, and my delight is to make the plunge terrible.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • Your sacrifice shall be the agony of agonies, the death of deaths, and yet you'll find yourself unable to resist.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • Entrez donc, 'tis the work of one of your compatriots; and here, though a heretic, you may consider yourself on English ground.

  • Tell Lady Maude the candid truth, and take shame and blame to yourself, as you deserve.

    Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood
  • Still, monsieur, I am willing to proceed upon the lines which would appear to be more agreeable to yourself.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for yourself

yourself

/ (jɔːˈsɛlf, jʊə-) /


pronounplural -selves
    • the reflexive form of you

    • (intensifier): you yourself control your destiny

  1. (preceded by a copula) your normal or usual self: you're not yourself these days

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012