Yourself Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Etymology

Examples

yourself American [yoor-self, yawr-, yohr-, yer-] / yʊərˈsɛlf, yɔr-, yoʊr-, yər- /

pronoun

plural

yourselves

1. (an emphatic appositive of you orye ).

   a letter you yourself wrote.

2. a reflexive form of you (used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition).

   Don't blame yourself. Did you ever ask yourself “why”? You can think for yourself.

3. Informal. (used in place of you, especially in compound subjects, objects, and complements).

   Ted and yourself have been elected. We saw your sister and yourself at the game. People like yourselves always feel like that.

4. (used in absolute constructions).

   Yourself having so little money, how could they expect you to help?

5. your normal or customary self.

   You'll soon be yourself again.

6. (used in place of you after as, than, orbut ).

   scholars as famous as yourselves; a girl no older than yourself.

7. oneself.

   The surest way is to do it yourself.

yourself British / jɔːˈsɛlf, jʊə- /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of you

   2. (intensifier)

      you yourself control your destiny

2. (preceded by a copula) your normal or usual self

   you're not yourself these days

"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

Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of yourself

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; your, self

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.

As an experienced former cabinet minister admits, "if you are a junior female in Westminster you can still find yourself in uncomfortable situations" - or, for that matter, a young male staffer too.

From BBC

You’re doing all the right stuff by yourself, and you’re among professionals, medical professionals, not Yahoos, and you can still have someone else make a mistake and your life is gone.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s important not to take yourself too seriously. We’re showing that it’s OK to have fun. And that silliness is a big, important component of rock and roll.”

From Los Angeles Times

Before buying a term policy, ask yourself, ‘If I die tomorrow, will my loved ones face any financial problems?’

From MarketWatch

“Don’t deny yourself just to leave more money to your kids.”

From MarketWatch

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.