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Definition itself in British English

itself pronoun

pronoun
/ɪtˈself/

Itself is a reflexive pronoun, being the reflexive form of it. It can be used especially in the following ways:

as an object that refers to the same thing that is the subject of the sentence or that was mentioned earlier in the sentence: The machine switches itself off when it has finished printing.The civil war divided the country against itself.

after a singular noun or pronoun for emphasis: The document itself is divided into three parts.That itself is the problem.

1

used for showing that a thing, group, animal, or baby that does something is also affected by the action or is involved in it

Example

It will be several months before the young bird can feed itself.

Example

Can the government in Freetown defend itself against rebel attacks?

Synonyms and related words
2

used for referring back to something already mentioned in the same sentence

Example

Roosevelt's reforms were designed to save American capitalism from itself.

Example

We want to create a society that is at ease with itself.

Synonyms and related words
3

used for emphasizing that you are referring to a particular thing and not to anything else

Example

The problem lies in the software and not in the computer itself.

Example

Before we begin the ceremony itself, there are one or two things I should explain.

Synonyms and related words
4

used for saying that someone or something has a lot of a particular quality

Example

The nurses had been kindness itself to Leonora.

Example

Applying online is simplicity itself.

Synonyms and related words
Definition itself in British English