# himself

/hɪmˈsɛɫf/ (US) · /hɪmsˈɛlf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/himself
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. reflexive use

pronoun · CEFR A2

you use this when the man or boy doing the action is also the one receiving the action.

For teachers: the reflexive form of 'he', used as the object of a verb or preposition when it refers to the same person as the subject.

- He cut himself while he was cooking dinner last night.
- The protagonist often found himself caught between his professional obligations and his personal desire for a quiet life in the countryside.

### 3. the man of the house

pronoun · CEFR C1 · Dialect · British English

a way to refer to the most important man in a place, like a boss or a husband.

For teachers: used as a subject or object to refer to the master of a house, a husband, or a person of high status.

- Is himself at home, or has he gone out to the farm?
- The staff waited in silence for himself to arrive, knowing that the meeting could not proceed without the master's final approval.

Usage: Common in Irish English and some British dialects to refer to the head of a household.

## Examples

- He looked at himself in the mirror.
- The chef prepared the entire five-course meal himself without any help from the kitchen staff.
- By teaching himself to code during his commute, he eventually secured a position that allowed him to work remotely and spend more time with his family.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.