itself
Americanpronoun
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a reflexive form of it.
The battery recharges itself.
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an emphatic appositive of it, which, that, this, or a noun.
which itself is also true; Even without flowers, the bowl itself is beautiful.
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(used as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb).
The chameleon's ability to change color is a protection for itself.
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its normal or customary self.
After much tender care, the puppy was soon itself again.
pronoun
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the reflexive form of it 1
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(intensifier)
even the money itself won't convince me
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(preceded by a copula) its normal or usual self
my cat isn't itself today
Usage
See myself.
Etymology
Origin of itself
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hit self. See it 1, 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.
Now, internet access is nearly ubiquitous globally, and this technology can use itself.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
The commercials aim to ease fears surrounding self-driving cars, with a gentle reminder of how human drivers can be flawed, but their focus is more on people riding in Waymos than the technology itself.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Also, the wild agave plant is very good at propagating itself.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Duck appears everywhere, from the decor to the menu itself.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
I had a very clear memory of three-year-old Elliot shoving Play-Doh up his nose, a memory I made a habit to remind him of every time the opportunity presented itself.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
