my‧self S1 W1 /maɪˈself/ pronoun [reflexive form of ‘I’]

1. used by the person speaking or writing to show that they are affected by their own action:
I blame myself for what has happened.
I can look after myself.
I’m making myself a sandwich.

2.
a) used to emphasize ‘I’ or ‘me’:
Why do I always have to do everything myself?
They say it’s a beautiful place, but I myself have never been there.
b) used after ‘like’, ‘as’, or ‘except’ instead of ‘me’:
No one is to blame except myself.

3. (all) by myself
a) alone:
I’d like to be by myself for a while.
b) without help from anyone else:
I painted the house all by myself.

4. not feel/be myself informal used when the person speaking does not feel well, or is not able to behave normally, for example because he or she is upset or ill:
I haven’t been feeling myself lately.
Sorry, I’m not myself today. I’ve had some bad news.

5. have something (all) to myself to not have to share something with anyone else:
Everyone else had gone out and I had the apartment all to myself.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲