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Himself - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Himself is a reflexive pronoun used to refer back to a male subject previously mentioned. It emphasizes that the action affects the subject, as in He hurt himself.

himself

/hɪmˈsɛlf/ /hɪmˈsɛlf/

Definition:

A reflexive pronoun referring to a male previously mentioned as the object of a verb or preposition.

Synonyms:

oneself, personally, individually

Part of Speech:

pronoun

Antonyms:

herself, itself

Common Collocations:

by himself, for himself, to himself, in himself, of himself

Derivatives:

himself (no common derivatives)

Usage Tips:

Use "himself" when the subject and object are the same male person or for emphasis on his own action.

Common Phrases:

by himself, to himself, beside himself

Etymology:

Derived from Old English "him selfum," combining "him" (dative of "he") and "self" (reflexive pronoun).

Examples:

  • 1. He hurt himself while playing soccer.
  • 2. The boy made the sandwich all by himself.
  • 3. He talked to himself in the mirror.
  • 4. John blamed himself for the mistake.

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