himself

American  

[him-self, im-self] / hɪmˈsɛlf, ɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. an emphatic appositive of him or he.

   He himself spoke to the men.

2. a reflexive form of him.

   He cut himself.

3. (used in absolute constructions).

   Himself the soul of honor, he included many rascals among his intimates.

4. (used as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb).

   The old car had room only for himself and three others.

5. (used in comparisons after as orthan ).

   His wife is as stingy as himself.

6. his normal or customary self.

   He is himself again.

7. Irish English. a man of importance, especially the master of the house.

   Himself will be wanting an early dinner.

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himself British  

/ ɪmˈsɛlf, hɪmˈsɛlf /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of he or him

   2. (intensifier)

      the king himself waved to me

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

   he seems himself once more

3. the man of the house

   how is himself?

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Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of himself

before 900; Middle English him selven, Old English him selfum, dative singular of hē self he himself; see him, self

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

himself

Shah distanced himself from the ads attacking Jackson and called for them to be taken off the air.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

Last week, a 34-year-old Tehran-based startup entrepreneur who had long opposed the regime posted a picture of himself proudly posing in uniform after joining the military.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

As if he were one of the kids, Stillz filmed the entire movie himself serving as cinematographer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

In his interview with the Times’ Leibovich, Graham noted that when his old friend McCain was facing reelection in 2010, he turned himself into “the most conservative member of the U.S. Senate.”

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

“It’s hard for a man to hold two sides of himself together.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes