- (the reflexive form of I) used when the speaker or writer is also the person affected by an action
- I cut myself on a knife.
- I wrote a message to myself.
- I found myself unable to speak.
- I haven't been feeling myself recently (= I have not felt well).
- I needed space to be myself (= not influenced by other people).
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- used to emphasize the fact that the speaker is doing something
- I'll speak to her myself.
- I myself do not agree.
Word OriginOld English me self, from the pronoun me + the adjective self; the change of me to my occurred in Middle English.
Idioms
See myself in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee myself in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English(all) by myself
- alone; without anyone else
- I live by myself.
- without help
- I painted the room all by myself.
(all) to myself
- for the speaker or writer alone to have or use; not shared
- I had a whole pizza to myself.
Check pronunciation:
myself