myself
meye-SEHLF
Myself (pron) means used as the object of a verb or preposition when the speaker is also the subject. Example: “I made myself a cup of tea.”
pron
1
Used as the object of a verb or preposition when the speaker is also the subject.
"I made myself a cup of tea."
"I sometimes talk to myself when I'm concentrating."
"I looked at myself in the mirror and hardly recognised the person there."
2
Used for emphasis, often in place of "I" or "me."
"I myself have never seen the film."
"I painted the whole fence myself, and nobody helped me."
"You should ask the manager, but I myself would say yes."
How to use myself
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe reflexive and emphatic form of "I" — used when you're both doing and receiving the action, or for emphasis.
Common mistake
Avoid using "myself" as a simple substitute for "I" or "me" in phrases like "please contact John or myself" — the correct word there is "me."
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Etymology
From Old English mē selfum ("me self"), later reanalyzed as my + self.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for myself
See all rhymes for myself →Frequently asked questions
What does “myself” mean?
The word “myself” means used as the object of a verb or preposition when the speaker is also the subject. In plain terms, the reflexive and emphatic form of "I" — used when you're both doing and receiving the action, or for emphasis.
How do you pronounce “myself”?
“Myself” is pronounced meye-SEHLF (/maɪˈsɛlf/ in IPA).
How do you use “myself” in a sentence?
Here is “myself” used in a sentence: “I made myself a cup of tea.”
What is another word for “myself”?
Words with a similar meaning to “myself” include me.
What part of speech is “myself”?
“Myself” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “myself” come from?
The word “myself” comes from Old English. From Old English mē selfum ("me self"), later reanalyzed as my + self.
Is “myself” a common word?
“Myself” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “myself” have?
“Myself” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used as the object of a verb or preposition when the speaker is also the subject.
When should you use 'myself' instead of 'me' or 'I'?
Use myself only when you are both the subject and the object of the action — 'I taught myself' — or to add emphasis — 'I built it myself.' It is not a more polite substitute for me or I, so 'contact John or myself' should really be 'contact John or me.'
What is the difference between 'myself' and 'me'?
Me is an ordinary object pronoun used when someone else acts on you — 'she called me.' Myself is reflexive, used only when the subject is I and the action loops back — 'I hurt myself.' If you could not replace it with 'I' as the subject, myself is usually wrong.
Is 'myself' a reflexive pronoun?
Yes. It is the reflexive form of I, used when the speaker is both the doer and the receiver — 'I saw myself in the mirror.' It also works as an emphatic pronoun that stresses who did something — 'I spoke to the manager myself.' Both uses require I as the subject.
What is an example of 'myself' in a sentence?
Myself appears when I acts on I: 'I made myself a coffee,' 'I need to remind myself to call,' or 'I'm not feeling myself today.' For emphasis it follows the subject or ends the clause: 'I'll do it myself' or 'I myself have never been there.'
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