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Herself - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Herself is a reflexive pronoun used to refer back to a female subject previously mentioned. It emphasizes that she performs an action on or for herself, e.g., She saw herself in the mirror.

herself

/hɝˈsɛlf/ /hɜːˈsɛlf/

Definition:

A reflexive pronoun referring to a female previously mentioned as the subject of the clause.

Synonyms:

herself alone, on her own, by herself

Part of Speech:

pronoun

Antonyms:

himself, itself

Common Collocations:

by herself, for herself, to herself, in herself

Derivatives:

herself (no common derivatives)

Usage Tips:

Use "herself" when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same female person.

Common Phrases:

by herself, beside herself, all by herself

Etymology:

Derived from Old English "hire self," combining "her" and "self" for emphasis or reflexivity.

Examples:

  • 1. She hurt herself while playing.
  • 2. She made the cake all by herself.
  • 3. She told herself to stay calm.
  • 4. She looked at herself in the mirror.

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