her·self
Pronounced:
/hɚˈsɛlf/
Function:
pronounMeaning:
1 : that same woman, girl, or female animal: a —used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a woman, girl, or female animal that has already been mentioned ▪ She considers herself lucky. ▪ She accepted the award for her coworkers and herself. ▪ She is proud of herself for finishing college. ▪ She wrapped the blanket around herself. ▪ “I wonder what he meant?” she said/thought to herself. ▪ She had the house (all) to herself. [=she was alone in the house] ▪ She wanted to see it for herself. [=she wanted to see it rather than have someone tell her about it, describe it to her, etc.] b —used for emphasis to refer again to a woman, girl, or female animal that has already been mentioned ▪ She told me herself that she would be here. ▪ It's hard to believe that she was young once herself. ▪ My father wanted my mother to see a doctor, but she herself didn't think it was necessary. ▪ We were welcomed by the company president herself. ▪ She was nervous about meeting them, but I told him to just be herself. [=to behave like she normally does]
2 : her normal or healthy self ▪ She was herself again after a good night's sleep. ▪ She's not herself today; something's bothering her.
2 : her normal or healthy self ▪ She was herself again after a good night's sleep. ▪ She's not herself today; something's bothering her.
by herself
1 : without any help from other people ▪ She shoveled the driveway by herself. ▪ She did her homework (all) by herself.
2 : with nobody else : alone ▪ The grandmother still lives in the house by herself. ▪ She went to the store by herself.
2 : with nobody else : alone ▪ The grandmother still lives in the house by herself. ▪ She went to the store by herself.