herself

pronoun

her·​self (h)ər-ˈself 

 Southern also  -ˈsef

1

: that identical female one

—used reflexively, for emphasis, in absolute constructions, and in place of her especially when joined to another object

she considers herself lucky

she herself did it

herself an orphan, she understood the situation

accepted the award for her colleagues and herself

compare she entry 1

2

: her normal, healthy, or sane condition or self

3

chiefly Ireland and Scotland : a woman of consequence

especially : the mistress of the house

Examples of herself in a Sentence

She was herself again after a good night's sleep.

She's not herself today; something's bothering her.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for herself

• bookshelf
• himself
• hisself
• itself
• meself
• myself
• nonself
• oneself
• thyself
• yourself
• elf
• self

Kids Definition

herself

pronoun

her·​self (h)ər-ˈself 

1

: that identical female one

—used for emphasis or to show that the subject and object of the verb are the same

she considers herself lucky

she herself did it

2

: her normal, healthy, or sane self

was herself again after a good night's sleep