What does itself mean?
“Itself” is a reflexive and intensive pronoun. In its reflexive use, it refers back to the subject of a clause and indicates that the subject performs an action on or for itself, as in “the engine shuts itself off.” This pattern is especially natural with machines, animals, and other nonhuman subjects, though it is also used for people. In its intensive use, “itself” emphasizes a subject or noun, often suggesting that the subject acts independently or deserves attention in its own right: “The website is a useful resource in itself.” The phrase “by itself” can highlight that something occurs alone or without assistance, while “in itself” focuses attention on the inherent quality of something. The word is widely used in standard British and American English and is especially common in descriptions of automatic mechanisms, although it is not limited to them.
A reflexive pronoun referring to the subject of the clause, especially a nonhuman subject that performs an action upon itself.
"The door opened itself during the storm."
Reflexive use is especially idiomatic with machines, animals, and other nonhuman subjects.
An intensive pronoun used to emphasize a subject or noun, meaning that the subject or noun is notable in its own right or acts personally.
"The program can manage the process itself."
This use often corresponds to expressions such as “by itself” or “personally.”
It can be both a doer and an action: the door opens itself, a feat that sounds impossible until the mechanism clicks into place.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of itself
“Itself” is a compound formed from “it” and “self,” a development that took place in Middle English. Its second element, “self,” comes from Old English and ultimately reflects an Old English personal pronoun meaning the same person. The compound follows the pattern of other reflexive forms such as “himself” and “herself,” but “itself” is now used particularly often with inanimate subjects.
How itself is actually used
Reflexive use is especially common with inanimate subjects and expresses that the subject performs an action on or for itself. When used intensively, it adds emphasis and is often translated with “by itself” or “personally.”
Easily confused with itself
“Itself” is a pronoun referring back to a subject or used for emphasis, whereas “its” is the possessive form used before a noun.