him‧self S1 W1 / ɪm’self ; strong hɪmself / 代词 [ reflexive form of ‘he’ ]

1

a) used to show that the man or boy who does something is affected by his own action :

In despair, the young boy had hanged himself.

His name is James but he calls himself Jim.

He poured himself a glass of orange juice.

b) used after words such as ‘everyone’, ‘anyone’, and ‘someone’ to talk about people in general being affected by their own actions :

Everyone should learn to respect himself.

2

a) used to emphasize that you are talking about one particular man or boy :

It was the President himself who opened the door.

It must be true – he said so himself.

b) used after ‘like’, ‘as’, or ‘except’ instead of ‘him’ :

The other passengers were all refugees like himself.

3 (all) by himself

a) alone :

He’s lived by himself since his wife died.

Winston was sitting all by himself.

b) without help from anyone else :

It was the first time he felt he had achieved something by himself.

4 not be/feel/seem himself informal if a man or boy is not himself, he does not feel or behave as he usually does, for example because he is upset or ill :

Rick hasn’t seemed himself lately.

5 have something (all) to himself if a man or boy has something to himself, he does not have to share it with anyone else :

John at last had a bedroom all to himself.