# itself

/ˌɪtˈsɛɫf/ (US) · /ɪtsˈɛlf/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. reflexive use

pronoun · CEFR A2

you use this when a thing or animal does something to itself.

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

- The cat licked itself clean after finishing its bowl of milk.
- The software update will download and install itself automatically once the computer is connected to a power source.

Usage: Used as a direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.

### 2. for emphasis

pronoun · CEFR B1

you use this to emphasize the specific thing you are talking about.

For teachers: an emphatic pronoun used to intensify a noun or another pronoun, highlighting that specific entity over others.

- The house itself is small, but the garden is very large.
- While the conclusion of the report was controversial, the data itself was considered beyond reproach by the scientific community.

Usage: Often placed immediately after the noun it emphasizes or at the end of the clause.

## Examples

- The cat cleans itself after every meal.
- The machine will turn itself off automatically once the cycle finishes to save electricity.
- The theory is not flawed in itself, but the way it has been applied to modern economics has led to several significant practical failures.

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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.