My Definition & Meaning

American

British

Grammar

Usage

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms my 1 American [mahy] / maɪ /

pronoun

1. (a form of the possessive case of I used as an attributive adjective).

   My soup is cold.

interjection

1. Also (used as an exclamation of mild surprise or dismay).

   My, what a big house this is! My-my, how old he looks!

my- 2 American

1. variant of myo- before some vowels.

   myalgia.

my 1 British / maɪ /

determiner

1. of, belonging to, or associated with the speaker or writer (me)

   my own ideas

   do you mind my smoking?

2. used in various forms of address

   my lord

   my dear boy

3. used in various exclamations

   my goodness!

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

1. an exclamation of surprise, awe, etc

   my, how you've grown!

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 MY 2 British

abbreviation

1. motor yacht

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 my 3 British

abbreviation

1. Malaysia

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 my- 4 British

combining form

1. a variant of myo-

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Grammar

See me.

Usage

What does my- mean? My- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “muscle.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.My- comes from the Greek mŷs, meaning “muscle” and “mouse.” Mouse? You read that right. Discover why at our entry for muscle!My- is a variant of myo-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use myo- article.

Etymology

Origin of my

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English mī, variant of mīn, Old English mīn; mine 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At a meeting of the Open Market Committee on Sept. 16, 2008, he stated he was “still not ready to relinquish my concerns on the inflation front.”

From Los Angeles Times

“As much as I appreciate how rabid and interested people are at this point, the first season worked because I trusted my gut with this, and I’m going to do that again,” Tierney says.

From Los Angeles Times

“Every Olympics feels like my first Olympics,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s my 47th birthday today, so I kicked off the celebration last week with the funnest thing someone my age can gift themselves:

From Los Angeles Times

I plopped myself into a chair near the front of Gate 18D on Jan. 25 at Sacramento International Airport, taking a final swig of my 32-oz Diet Coke.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.