myself

myself — pronoun

1. Used when the person speaking is both the one who does an action and the one who

1.pronounA2
Definition

Used when the person speaking is both the one who does an action and the one who receives it — for example, cutting yourself while cooking, or teaching yourself a new skill.

Example

I taught myself to play the guitar using online videos.

teach + reflexive pronoun for self-instruction

I looked at myself in the shop window and laughed at my reflection.

Common collocations
  • cut myself
  • taught myself
  • told myself
  • asked myself
  • hurt myself
  • reminded myself
  • treated myself to

Grammar Patterns

verb + myself

preposition + myself

Usage Note

This is the most basic and frequent use of 'myself'. The verb must be one that can take the same person as both subject and object — common verbs include 'cut', 'hurt', 'teach', 'tell', 'ask', 'remind', 'treat', 'introduce'.

Common Mistakes

I enjoyed me at the party.
I enjoyed myself at the party.
Reflexive verbs in English always use the reflexive pronoun, not the object pronoun.
I concentrat-ed myself on the test.
I concentrated on the test.
Not every languageʼs reflexive verb is reflexive in English. 'Concentrate', 'feel', 'relax' are not reflexive in English.

2. Used immediately after 'I' or at the end of a statement to stress that you perso

2.pronounB1
Definition

Used immediately after 'I' or at the end of a statement to stress that you personally — and not anyone else — performed the action or hold the opinion.

Example

I myself saw the thief run out of the store.

I myself + verb for personal witness

The director never called, but I myself spoke to the manager.

Common collocations
  • I myself
  • do it myself
  • see it myself
  • check it myself
  • handle it myself
Synonyms
  • personally

    less emphatic; used in formal writing rather than speech

  • in person

    implies physical presence, while 'myself' can also mean 'without delegating'

Grammar Patterns

I myself + verb

verb + object + myself

Usage Note

When placed right after 'I' ('I myself…'), the emphasis is stronger. When placed at the end ('…do it myself'), the emphasis contrasts with someone else doing it. This sense is not available for all verbs — it works best with actions the speaker can personally perform or witness.

Common Mistakes

I myself went to the store myself.
I myself went to the store.' or 'I went to the store myself.
Using both positions in one sentence is redundant.

3. Used in place of 'I' or 'me' to sound less direct or more formal, especially aft

3.pronounB2
Definition

Used in place of 'I' or 'me' to sound less direct or more formal, especially after words like 'like', 'as', 'than', or in compound subjects and objects.

Example

The invitations were sent by myself and a few colleagues from the office.

and myself as formal compound object

My grandmother was as surprised as myself to hear the news.

as + myself for comparison

Common collocations
  • like myself
  • such as myself
  • than myself
  • myself included
Synonyms
  • me

    neutral, not formal; the default object pronoun

  • I

    used as subject; 'myself' is sometimes used in subject position in informal speech

Grammar Patterns

like myself

as myself

such as myself

than myself

and myself

Usage Note

Some style guides consider using 'myself' instead of 'I' or 'me' to be hypercorrection. In formal writing, 'I' (subject) and 'me' (object) are safer. However, this usage is well established in polite speech and business correspondence.

Common Mistakes

Myself and John went to the meeting.
John and I went to the meeting.
'Myself' should never be the subject of a verb.
Please send the form to myself.
Please send the form to me.
Use 'me' for simple objects unless a specific reason for formality exists.

4. Without anyone else present, or without receiving help from anyone — for example

4.pronounA2
Definition

Without anyone else present, or without receiving help from anyone — for example, living alone in a flat, or finishing a project without assistance.

Example

I built the wooden bookshelf all by myself without any help.

all by myself for independent action

I live by myself in a small flat near the train station.

Common collocations
  • by myself
  • all by myself
  • live by myself
  • do it by myself
  • walk home by myself
Synonyms
  • alone

    means only 'without company', not 'without help'

  • on my own

    interchangeable with 'by myself' in most contexts

  • solo

    informal; often used for travel or performance

  • independently

    more formal; emphasises self-reliance rather than solitude

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

by myself

all by myself

Usage Note

The phrase 'by myself' can mean either 'alone' (no company) or 'without help' (no assistance). The context makes the meaning clear. Adding 'all' in 'all by myself' strengthens the sense of being completely alone or entirely unaided.

Common Mistakes

I by myself went to the store.
I went to the store by myself.
'By myself' goes after the verb, not before it.
I did it by my own.
I did it by myself.' or 'I did it on my own.
English uses 'by + myself' or 'on + my own', not a mixed form.

5. For the person speaking to have, use, or enjoy exclusively — without having to s

5.pronounB1
Definition

For the person speaking to have, use, or enjoy exclusively — without having to share with anyone.

Example

I had the entire swimming pool to myself that afternoon.

have + object + to myself for exclusive use

With my flatmates away, I had the kitchen all to myself for a week.

Common collocations
  • to myself
  • all to myself
  • had the ... to myself
  • keep it to myself
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • shared

    used by more than one person

Grammar Patterns

to myself

all to myself

Usage Note

This sense always appears in the structure 'have [something] (all) to myself'. The 'all' is optional but adds emphasis. The thing possessed can be a physical space, an object, or a period of time.

6. Not feeling or behaving the way one normally does — for instance, being unusuall

6.pronounB1
Definition

Not feeling or behaving the way one normally does — for instance, being unusually irritable, sad, or anxious because of stress, tiredness, or emotional difficulty.

Example

I'm sorry I shouted at you — I haven't been myself since the argument with my brother.

haven't been myself for emotional state

After working twelve-hour shifts all week, I just didn't feel myself at all.

Common collocations
  • not myself
  • haven't been myself
  • feel like myself again
  • not quite myself
Synonyms
  • out of sorts

    idiomatic; means slightly unwell or unhappy

  • off

    informal; 'I feel off today' — vague but common

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be + not + myself

feel + like + myself

not + feel + myself

Usage Note

This sense is fixed in the negative ('not myself') or in recovery ('feel like myself again'). The positive phrase 'I am myself' is rare and usually reserved for philosophical or poetic contexts. Distinguish from sense 7, which is specifically about physical illness — this sense covers emotional, mental, or general life stress.

Common Mistakes

I am not me today.
I am not myself today.
The fixed expression uses the reflexive pronoun, not the object pronoun.

7. Feeling physically sick or unwell, to the point where your body does not feel li

7.pronounB2
Definition

Feeling physically sick or unwell, to the point where your body does not feel like it normally does — for example, when you have a fever, a bad cold, or stomach trouble.

Example

I knew I wasn't myself when even the smell of tea made me feel sick.

wasn't myself for physical illness context

With this terrible cold I haven't felt like myself for almost a week.

Common collocations
  • not myself with
  • feel like myself again
  • wasn't myself
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be + not + myself

not + feel + myself

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 6: sense 6 covers emotional or mental states (stress, sadness, irritability), while sense 7 is specifically about physical illness affecting how you feel. In practice, a sentence like 'I'm not myself today' could mean either; the surrounding context — mention of fever, cold, or a doctor — signals this physical-illness use.

Common Mistakes

I am not myself with cold.
I am not myself because of this cold.' or 'I am not myself with this cold.
The cause should be introduced by 'with' or 'because of', not a bare noun.
Idioms

(all) by myself

idiom

Without any other person present or helping.

Sara finished the entire puzzle all by herself.

Do you often eat lunch by yourself at school?

(all) to myself

idiom

For only me to use or enjoy, without sharing.

Min had the whole swimming pool all to himself.

Can I have the remote control to myself tonight?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: pronoun/4

'By myself' is the most natural choice when emphasising either solitude or self-reliance. 'Alone' focuses purely on the absence of other people — it says nothing about whether you had help. 'On my own' overlaps heavily with 'by myself' but sounds slightly more active and voluntary (choosing to be independent rather than merely unaccompanied). 'Solo' is informal and typically used for specific activities: travel ('I went solo to Japan'), performance ('a solo show'), or sports. 'Independently' is formal and abstract, suited to financial or professional contexts ('I work independently as a freelancer'). For everyday situations, 'by myself' and 'on my own' are the safest choices. Compare: 'I ate dinner alone last night' (no company) vs. 'I cooked the meal all by myself' (no help) vs. 'I started my own business and now work independently' (formal, professional).

by myselfalone ↗on my ownsolo ↗independently ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • by myself
  • to myself
  • all by myself
  • all to myself

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Myself' comes from Old English 'mē selfum', a combination of the first-person object pronoun 'mē' (me) and 'self' (same, own). Over time, the two words fused into a single reflexive form. Most Germanic languages have a similar pattern — compare German 'mich selbst' (me self) — but English is unusual in that the reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject in person and number.