personally

adverb

per·​son·​al·​ly ˈpərs-nə-lē 

ˈpər-sə-nə-

1

: in person

attend to the matter personally

2

: as a person : in personality

personally attractive but not very trustworthy

3

: for oneself : as far as oneself is concerned

personally, I don't want to go

4

: in a personal manner

don't take this personally

Synonyms of personally

• immediately
• secretly
• in secret
• in private

Examples of personally in a Sentence

You will be held personally responsible for any losses or damages.

The player was personally criticized by his coach.

He blamed me personally for causing the problem.

I was personally offended by the article.

Recent Examples on the Web

However much Trump was personally involved in shaping these national-security documents, there’s little doubt that the 2025 version sounds a lot more like the man himself than the 2017 iteration. —Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2025

As the founder and CEO of Boll & Branch, Scott Tannen oversees the work of some 275 employees — most of whom he’s personally interviewed. —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

The key is to acknowledge the gift promptly and personally. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025

One cannot overstate the role the United States—and Trump personally—plays in validating Russia as a great power and Putin as a global leader. —Thomas Graham, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing personally

• take it personally

Rhymes for personally

• impersonally

Kids Definition

personally

adverb

per·​son·​al·​ly ˈpərs-nə-lē 

-ᵊn-ə-

1

: in person

attend to the matter personally

2

: as a person : in personality

personally attractive

3

: for oneself : as far as oneself is concerned

personally, I am against it