yourself
pronoun /jɔːˈself/, weak form /jəˈself/
/jɔːrˈself/, /jʊrˈself/, weak form /jərˈself/
(plural yourselves
Idioms /jɔːˈselvz/, weak form /jəˈselvz/
/jɔːrˈselvz/, /jʊrˈselvz/, weak form /jərˈselvz/
)- (the reflexive form of you) used when the person or people being spoken to both cause and are affected by an action
- Have you hurt yourself?
- You don't seem quite yourself today (= you do not seem well or do not seem as happy as usual).
- Enjoy yourselves!
- used to emphasize the fact that the person who is being spoken to is doing something
- Do it yourself—I don't have time.
- You can try it out for yourselves.
- You yourself are one of the chief offenders.
- used instead of ‘you’ in order to sound polite or formal (although some people do not consider this use to be correct)
- We sell a lot of these to people like yourself.
- ‘And yourself,’ he replied, ‘How are you?’
Idioms
be yourself
- to act naturally
- Don't act sophisticated—just be yourself.
(all) by yourself/yourselves
- alone; without anyone else
- How long were you by yourself in the house?
Which Word? alone / on your own / by yourself / lonely / lonealone / on your own / by yourself / lonely / lone- Alone, and on your own/by yourself (which are less formal and are the normal phrases used in spoken English), describe a person or thing that is separate from others. They do not mean that the person is unhappy:
- I like being alone in the house.
- I’m going to London by myself next week.
- I want to finish this on my own (= without anyone’s help).
- Lone/solitary/single mean that there is only one person or thing there; lone and solitary may sometimes suggest that the speaker thinks the person involved is lonely:
- a lone jogger in the park
- long, solitary walks
- Lonely (North American English also lonesome) means that you are alone and sad:
- a lonely child
- Sam was very lonely when he first moved to New York.
- a lonely house
- without help
- Are you sure you did this exercise by yourself?
(all) to yourself/yourselves
- for only you to have or use; not shared
- I'm going to be away next week so you'll have the office to yourself.