himself

IPA/hɪmˈself/
KK[hɪmsˈɛlf]IPA/hɪmˈself/

himself — pronoun

1. Points back to the male subject of the sentence, showing that he does the action

1.pronounA2
Definition

Points back to the male subject of the sentence, showing that he does the action and receives the result at the same time — for instance, a man cutting his own finger while cooking.

Example

Jude cut himself while chopping vegetables for the stir-fry.

reflexive: verb + himself (object = subject)

Hassan introduced himself to the new neighbours at the welcome party.

Common collocations
  • cut himself
  • introduced himself
  • taught himself
  • hurt himself

Grammar Patterns

verb + himself (object = subject)

Usage Note

Frequently used with grooming verbs (shave, wash, dress), injury verbs (cut, hurt, burn), and cognitive verbs (ask, tell, convince). Can also act as an indirect object as in 'poured himself a drink.'

Common Mistakes

Himself fixed the car.
He fixed the car himself.
'himself' cannot be the subject of a sentence.
She hurt himself.
She hurt herself.
use the pronoun that matches the subject's gender.

2. Placed immediately after a male noun or pronoun to highlight that this person —

2.pronounB1
Definition

Placed immediately after a male noun or pronoun to highlight that this person — and not someone else — is the one involved in the action.

Example

The mayor himself came to inspect the damaged bridge after the storm.

emphatic: noun + himself after the subject

James himself admitted that the plan had serious problems from the start.

Common collocations
  • himself came
  • himself admitted
  • himself painted

Grammar Patterns

noun + himself

pronoun + himself

Usage Note

Common with titles and roles (the president himself, the doctor himself, the teacher himself) to add authority or surprise. Works in subject and object positions.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'He himself did it.' is grammatically correct but can sound redundant — in speech, stress on 'He' alone often carries the emphasis.

3. When a male acts without any company or without the assistance of other people —

3.pronounA2
Definition

When a male acts without any company or without the assistance of other people — the phrase 'by himself' can refer to either solitude or independent effort.

Example

Hao moved all the furniture by himself while his wife was at work.

by himself = without help

Benjamin prefers to study by himself in the library rather than in a group.

by himself = alone

Common collocations
  • by himself
  • all by himself
  • live by himself
  • do something by himself
Synonyms
  • alone

    focuses on solitude; does not imply lack of help

  • on his own

    covers both solitude and independence, similar to 'by himself'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

by himself

Usage Note

The context determines whether 'by himself' means 'alone' or 'without help' — and sometimes both apply. For clarity, 'all by himself' can be used for extra emphasis on solitude.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'He went by himself to the store' can mean either 'alone' or 'without help' — context is needed to tell which. Add 'all' ('all by himself') if you want to stress solitude.

4. Used to say that a male person can use, occupy, or enjoy something without havin

4.pronounB1
Definition

Used to say that a male person can use, occupy, or enjoy something without having to share it with anyone else at all.

Example

The professor had the study all to himself during the summer break.

all to himself = for his exclusive use

The young groom wanted the rooftop garden to himself for the evening party.

Common collocations
  • to himself
  • all to himself
  • keep to himself
  • have to himself
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

have something (all) to himself

Usage Note

Often appears with 'all' to strengthen the idea of sole possession (e.g. 'all to himself'). Common with verbs of possession like have, keep, get, and reserve.

5. Said when a man seems or feels less happy, less healthy, or less like his normal

5.pronounB1
Definition

Said when a man seems or feels less happy, less healthy, or less like his normal character than usual — as in being unusually quiet, irritable, or withdrawn.

Example

Hassan hasn't been himself since he lost his job last month.

not himself = not feeling normal

I knew something was wrong when Emre was not himself at dinner.

Common collocations
  • not himself
  • wasn't himself
  • felt himself
  • be himself again
Synonyms
  • out of sorts

    informal; suggests mild irritation or discomfort rather than deep unhappiness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be not himself

be himself

Usage Note

Usually appears with the verb 'be' in negative form ('not himself'). The positive form ('he is himself again') signals a return to normal after illness or difficulty.

Common Mistakes

He didn't be himself.
He wasn't himself.
use the verb 'be' (was/were), not 'do.'

6. Used to describe a man whose behaviour or mood is affected by a physical illness

6.pronounB2
Definition

Used to describe a man whose behaviour or mood is affected by a physical illness — for instance, being confused, weak, or acting strangely because of a high fever or infection.

Example

With the high fever, Kevin was not himself and kept asking the same questions.

not himself + with [illness]

The doctor said that when a patient is not himself from the flu, rest is the best cure.

Common collocations
  • not himself with
  • not himself from
  • not himself due to

Grammar Patterns

be not himself + with/from [illness]

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 5: sense 6 is tied directly to a physical illness (named with 'with' or 'from'), whereas sense 5 covers emotional and mental states. If the cause is a clear physical symptom or disease, use sense 6.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'He is not himself with sadness.' — sadness is an emotion, not a physical illness. Use sense 5 for emotional causes.

7. Found in older English, where 'himself' was used as a gender-neutral reflexive p

7.pronounC1
Definition

Found in older English, where 'himself' was used as a gender-neutral reflexive pronoun when the subject's gender was unknown or unimportant — for example, 'everyone must ask himself.' Modern English typically uses 'themselves' instead.

Example

In older textbooks, a student was told that each person must prepare himself for the exam.

dated: generic masculine pronoun

The original rule said that every employee should conduct himself with honesty at all times.

Common collocations
  • himself (generic)
  • everyone ... himself (dated)
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

each + noun + himself

one + verb + himself

Usage Note

This usage is now widely considered outdated and potentially exclusive. For academic or professional writing, use 'themselves,' 'himself or herself,' or rephrase the sentence to avoid a pronoun altogether.

Common Mistakes

Everyone should bring himself to the meeting.
Everyone should bring themselves to the meeting.
modern English avoids the generic masculine 'himself.'
Idioms

be, seem, etc. himself

idiom

To act or feel in a normal, healthy, or happy way.

After a good night's sleep, Tom seemed himself again.

Is your father feeling himself today after the surgery?

(all) by himself

idiom

Without help from or company of other people.

The little boy built the castle all by himself.

Did Diego travel to Japan by himself last summer?

(all) to himself

idiom

For his own exclusive use or enjoyment; not shared with others.

With his roommates away, Brian had the apartment to himself.

The professor kept the rare book all to himself.

Word family

  • self
    nounB1
  • selfish
    adjectiveB2
  • selfless
    adjectiveC1
  • self-centered
    adjectiveB2
  • oneself
    pronounB2
  • by himself
    phraseA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: pronoun/3

"By himself" covers both solitude and independence, making it the most versatile. "Alone" strictly means no other people present — it says nothing about whether help was received. "On his own" is the closest synonym to "by himself," carrying the same dual meaning of solitude or independence, but it sounds slightly more informal in British English. "Solo" is borrowed from Italian and is used mainly in performance, travel, or music contexts (e.g. "He flew solo" or "a solo performance"). "Unassisted" is the most formal option and focuses purely on the absence of help, not on being alone. For everyday speech, "by himself" and "on his own" are natural and interchangeable in most situations. For example: "He built the shed by himself" and "He built the shed on his own" both work equally well, but "He built the shed alone" would sound odd unless the speaker wants to stress that nobody else was present.

by himselfalone ↗on his ownsolo ↗unassisted ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • by himself
  • all to himself
  • not himself
  • himself again

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Derived from Old English 'himselfum,' a combination of 'him' (dative form of 'he') and 'self' (meaning 'own' or 'same'). The word has served as both a reflexive and an emphatic pronoun since the Old English period. Over centuries, the dative ending was dropped, and the form became the modern 'himself.'