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himself

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pronoun strong British English pronunciation: himself

/hɪmˈself/ weak British English pronunciation: himself

/ɪmˈself/

Himself is a reflexive pronoun, being the reflexive form of he. It is used especially in the following ways:

as an object that refers to the same male who is the subject of the sentence or who is mentioned somewhere earlier in the sentence: He had prepared himself for this important meeting. ♦ Clive was feeling rather pleased with himself. ♦ I asked him a few questions about himself. ♦ Florian's wife was, like himself, a refugee.

after a singular noun or the pronoun 'he' for emphasis: a suggestion that came from the president himself

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Related dictionary definitions

1
used for showing that the man, boy, or male animal that does something is also affected by his action or is involved in it
William slipped once, but he didn't hurt himself.
That man ought to be ashamed of himself.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself
2
used for referring to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned in the sentence
Lester's book is mostly about himself.
Julian showed us a picture of himself with his former wife.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself
3
old-fashioned used in a general way for referring to the subject of a sentence or someone else mentioned in the sentence when they may be either male or female, especially when the subject is a word such as 'everyone', 'someone', or 'anyone'
Everyone has to look after himself.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself
See also he
4
used for emphasizing that you are referring to a particular man, boy, or male animal and not to anyone else
It is said that Shakespeare himself once acted in this play.
Being an ex-police officer himself, Dawlish understands why so many cops are angry.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself
1. a.
  used for emphasizing that a particular man, boy, or male animal does something without help from anyone else
  You mean to tell me Jack built the whole cabin himself?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself

phrases

(all) by himself
1. 1
  alone
  Since his wife died, he's been living all by himself.
  I noticed Ben sitting all by himself in the corner.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself
2. 2
  without help from anyone else
  There's too much work for one man to do all by himself.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself
(all) to himself
if a man or boy has a place or time to himself, he is free to do what he wants without having to consider anyone else
It was the first time he'd had a room to himself.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself
be/feel/seem himself
if a man or boy is himself, he is in his normal mental or physical state
Joe felt more himself after a good night's sleep.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of himself

This is the British English definition of himself. View American English definition of himself.

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