personally

personally — adverb

1. marks the speaker's own view about something, rather than an official fact or a

1.adverbB1
Definition

marks the speaker's own view about something, rather than an official fact or a shared opinion.

Example

Personally, I would take the morning train instead of driving.

sentence adverb: Personally, + opinion

Personally, Maya thinks the blue poster looks too busy.

Common collocations
  • personally think
  • personally feel
  • personally prefer
Synonyms
  • for me

    more conversational and less formal in structure

  • in my view

    slightly more formal and often used in discussion or writing

  • to my mind

    less common and a little more literary

Grammar Patterns

Personally, + clause

subject + personally + think / prefer / feel

Usage Note

Usually placed at the start of the clause, or just before verbs such as 'think', 'prefer', and 'feel'. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 1 introduces a view, while sense 5 contrasts private life with a public or professional role.

Common Mistakes

Personally, the train leaves at six.
According to the timetable, the train leaves at six.
sense 1 introduces your opinion, not a checkable timetable fact.

2. concerning one person alone rather than a whole group, organization, or general

2.adverbB2
Definition

concerning one person alone rather than a whole group, organization, or general situation.

Example

Rina was not personally responsible for the missing cash.

personally + responsible

The new fee will personally affect only families with two cars.

Common collocations
  • personally responsible
  • personally liable
  • personally affected
  • personally involved
Synonyms
  • individually

    closest in meaning; often used for one-by-one treatment

  • directly

    overlaps when the effect reaches one person without going through others

  • privately

    not usually a synonym here; it stresses secrecy or private life instead of individual impact

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

personally + responsible / liable / affected / involved

Usage Note

Common with adjectives and past participles that show duty, blame, risk, or effect, especially 'responsible', 'liable', 'affected', and 'involved'. Distinguish from sense 3: here the focus is on who is concerned by the matter, not on who carried out the action directly.

Common Mistakes

I was personal responsible for the keys.
I was personally responsible for the keys.
this sense needs the adverb 'personally' to modify the adjective 'responsible'.

3. by doing something yourself, or by being there in person, instead of letting som

3.adverbB2
Definition

by doing something yourself, or by being there in person, instead of letting someone else do it for you.

Example

Dr. Chen personally called the family after the test results arrived.

verb + personally for direct action

The shop owner personally showed us how to fold the tent.

Common collocations
  • personally call
  • personally show
  • personally deliver
  • come personally
Synonyms
  • in person

    stresses physical presence more strongly

  • yourself

    very close when emphasizing that no helper acted

  • directly

    broader; can also mean without an intermediate step

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

verb + personally

come / visit / call + personally

Usage Note

Usually modifies an action verb and emphasizes that the named person did the act with their own effort or presence. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 answers 'who did it?', while sense 2 answers 'who was affected or held responsible?'.

Common Mistakes

I personally met the manager on the phone.
I spoke to the manager on the phone myself.' / 'I met the manager in person.
this sense suggests direct action or physical presence, so 'met ... on the phone' is not natural.

4. so that words or actions are aimed at someone as a person and feel hurtful or in

4.adverbC1
Definition

so that words or actions are aimed at someone as a person and feel hurtful or insulting.

Example

The article criticized the policy sharply but never attacked the minister personally.

attack + person + personally

During the argument, Ben personally mocked his sister's accent.

Common collocations
  • attack personally
  • blame personally
  • mock personally
  • feel personally hurt
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • impersonally

    without targeting anyone's feelings or identity

  • objectively

    focused on the issue rather than on the person

Grammar Patterns

personally + attack / blame / mock

feel + personally + hurt

Usage Note

Often appears with verbs of criticism or with adjectives such as 'hurt' and 'offended'. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 4 is about blame or insult aimed at a person, while sense 5 is about someone's private life or private relationship.

Common Mistakes

The review attacked the book personally.
The review attacked the author personally.
this sense is about words aimed at a person, not at an object or idea.

5. with reference to someone's private relationships or life outside work, office,

5.adverbC1
Definition

with reference to someone's private relationships or life outside work, office, or public duty.

Example

Reporters knew the actor from interviews, but Lila knew her personally.

know + person + personally

Few parents knew the head teacher personally before the school trip.

Common collocations
  • know personally
  • personally acquainted
  • personally own
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

know / own / support + personally

officially ... personally ...

Usage Note

Often contrasts with 'officially', 'professionally', or another word showing a public role. With verbs such as 'know', it means a private relationship, not just public recognition.

Common Mistakes

I know the singer personal.
I know the singer personally.
use the adverb after 'know' when you mean a real private acquaintance.
Idioms

take something personally

idiom

To feel upset or insulted by something that was not meant to hurt you.

Mina took the criticism personally and stopped talking to us.

Don't take it personally, but I prefer to work alone.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These expressions all introduce an opinion, but they do not sound the same. 'Personally' clearly marks a private view and often contrasts it with what other people think. 'For me' is more conversational and often appears in speech when the speaker is reacting quickly. 'In my view' is a little more formal and works well in discussion, essays, or meetings. 'To my mind' is less common and slightly literary, so it can sound stronger or more deliberate. Compare: 'Personally, I would wait another week.' 'For me, the red one looks better.' 'In my view, the plan is too expensive.' 'To my mind, the smaller room feels warmer.'

personally ↗for mein my viewto my mind ↗

Etymology

LatinLate LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

This adverb comes from 'personal' plus the common English ending '-ly'. 'Personal' goes back through French and late Latin to Latin 'persona', first meaning a mask used by an actor and later a person or social role. From that base, English developed 'personal' for things belonging to one individual, and then 'personally' for acting, speaking, or being affected as that individual.