itself

itself — pronoun

1. Reflects the action back to a non-human subject — the performer of the verb and

1.pronounA2
Definition

Reflects the action back to a non-human subject — the performer of the verb and the receiver are the same entity.

Example

The laptop turned itself off after running out of battery.

reflexive: it + verb + itself

The puppy hurt itself while jumping off the sofa.

reflexive: animal + verb + itself

Grammar Patterns

it + verb + itself

it + verb + preposition + itself

Usage Note

Only use this form when the subject of the sentence is 'it' or represents a single thing, animal, or idea. For people, use 'himself', 'herself', or 'themselves'. For plural things, use 'themselves'.

Common Mistakes

The dog washed and itself dried.
The dog washed itself and then dried itself.
The reflexive pronoun must come directly after the verb it relates to, not separated by 'and'.
The company itself is growing fast' (when meaning the company is growing without help).
The company is growing by itself' (without help) or 'The company itself is growing fast' (emphasizing the company).
The reflexive pronoun and the emphatic pronoun have different meanings.

2. Placed directly after a noun to highlight that specific thing — often to contras

2.pronounB1
Definition

Placed directly after a noun to highlight that specific thing — often to contrast it with surrounding details or to stress a fact about that thing in particular.

Example

The building itself is quite small, but the garden behind it is huge.

emphatic: [noun] + itself

The idea itself is not bad, but the plan needs more work.

Grammar Patterns

[noun phrase] + itself

[noun phrase] + itself + verb

Usage Note

In this emphatic sense, 'itself' can be removed from the sentence and the grammar stays correct — it only adds emphasis. This differs from the reflexive sense (sense 1), where removing 'itself' changes the meaning because the verb needs an object.

Common Mistakes

The dog itself cleaned' (when meaning the dog cleaned its own body).
The dog cleaned itself.
For the reflexive meaning, 'itself' must follow the verb as its object. Placing 'itself' after the subject creates an emphatic meaning instead.

3. Alone, without help from anyone or anything else, or without anything else being

3.pronounA2
Definition

Alone, without help from anyone or anything else, or without anything else being added.

Example

The little robot can navigate the room by itself using its sensors.

idiom: by itself (without help)

The door swung open by itself when the wind picked up.

Common collocations
  • happen by itself
  • work by itself
  • run by itself
  • open by itself
  • close by itself
Synonyms
  • alone

    Emphasizes being separate from others; 'by itself' adds the idea of independent action.

  • on its own

    Same meaning as 'by itself', slightly more informal.

  • automatically

    Used when something happens without a person's action; narrower meaning.

Antonyms
  • with help

    Direct opposite — with assistance from someone or something else.

Grammar Patterns

by itself

Usage Note

The phrase 'by itself' is a fixed expression. It can mean either 'without help' or 'automatically / without any outside cause'. The context tells you which meaning applies.

Common Mistakes

The cat by itself caught the mouse.' (unnatural word order).
The cat caught the mouse by itself.
'By itself' goes after the verb phrase, not before it.
The door opened by his own.
The door opened by itself.
Use 'itself' for things; 'himself/herself' for people.

4. Kept for the exclusive use of a particular thing, so that nothing else shares it

4.pronounB2
Definition

Kept for the exclusive use of a particular thing, so that nothing else shares it.

Example

The research team has a whole floor to itself in the new science building.

idiom: [noun] + to itself

Each department keeps a small budget for itself to cover unexpected costs.

Common collocations
  • have something to itself
  • keep something for itself
  • a room to itself
  • a space to itself
Synonyms
  • exclusively

    Formal adverb meaning for only one person or group.

  • on its own

    Can sometimes overlap, but 'on its own' more commonly means 'without help' than 'exclusively'.

Antonyms
  • shared

    Used by more than one person or group together.

Grammar Patterns

to itself

for itself

Usage Note

This sense usually appears in the pattern 'has [something] to itself' or 'keeps [something] for itself'. It describes exclusive access or ownership for a particular thing or group.

Common Mistakes

The room is for itself.' (incomplete).
Each guest room has a bathroom to itself.
The phrase 'to itself' needs a verb like 'has' or 'keeps', and describes what is kept exclusively.
Idioms

in itself

idiom

Considered alone, without looking at other related facts or aspects.

The cost of the flight is not high in itself, but with hotel fees it becomes expensive.

of itself

idiom

Naturally or automatically, without any outside cause or action.

The problem will not solve itself of itself; someone needs to take action.

be patience / honesty / kindness itself

idiom

Used to say that someone or something is a perfect example of a particular quality.

The old librarian was patience itself, always helping children find the books they wanted.

be patience, honesty, simplicity, etc. itself

idiom

This phrase means someone or something is a perfect example of that quality.

Our neighbor was kindness itself when we moved in.

The old librarian was patience itself with noisy children.

(all) by itself

idiom

This phrase means something happens without help from anyone or anything else.

The lights turned off by itself after ten minutes.

Did the cake really bake by itself in the oven?

(all) to itself

idiom

This phrase means something is used or owned only by one person or group, not shared.

The cat has the whole sofa all to itself.

Our team wants the championship trophy all to itself.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: pronoun/3

All four phrases relate to doing something without outside help, but they differ in scope. 'By itself' and 'on its own' are the closest equivalents and are often interchangeable, though 'on its own' sounds slightly more informal and can also mean 'without connection to other things' (e.g., 'The remark on its own was harmless'). 'Alone' focuses on separation from others rather than independent action — a machine can run alone in a room (no one else present) but may still need a person to start it. 'Automatically' is narrower: it means something happens without a person's direct action, often because a mechanism or program triggers it. 'Independently' is more formal and suggests the ability to operate without relying on external control or support. Example: 'The robot navigated the room by itself / on its own' → both work; 'The door opened automatically' → a sensor triggered it, not 'independently'; 'The child ate alone' → no one else was at the table, not necessarily without help.

alone ↗on its ownautomatically ↗independently ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Formed from 'it' + 'self'. In Old English, the word 'self' was used as an adjective or noun meaning 'same' or 'own'. The phrase 'it self' appeared in Middle English around the 13th century as two separate words. By the 16th century, the modern possessive form 'its' had replaced the earlier 'his' in phrases like 'his self', and 'itself' became a single compound word. The spelling stabilized in the 17th century.