personally
adverb
per·son·al·ly
ˈpərs-nə-lē 
ˈpər-sə-nə-
1
: in person
attend to the matter personally
2
: as a person : in personality
personally attractive but not very trustworthy
3
: for oneself : as far as oneself is concerned
personally, I don't want to go
4
: in a personal manner
don't take this personally
5
: in a way that involves someone's personal life
I don't know her personally. [=I have never met her]
often, specifically
: in a way that involves someone's personal life as opposed to someone's work or job
I know her both personally and professionally.
Examples of personally in a Sentence
You will be held personally responsible for any losses or damages.
The player was personally criticized by his coach.
He blamed me personally for causing the problem.
I was personally offended by the article.
Recent Examples on the Web
More interesting than movies that are industrially silenced, though, are those made by original filmmakers working relatively freely and personally, who’ve smoothed out and glazed over their artistry of their own accord.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
Markiplier can’t personally build the system for everybody, and his specific success can’t be duplicated.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
In peak-pandemic times, even something as simple as working out was a challenge, so his coaches at Forest Hills Northern High School personally delivered weights to players’ homes.
—Bomani Jones, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Plus, Musgraves personally invited the Mariachi Brothers—the award-winning trio of Antonio, Caleb, and Joshua Gámez-Cuéllar, who were detained by ICE in February and released the following month following local outcry—to open her three Texas concerts.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for personally
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Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
Markiplier can’t personally build the system for everybody, and his specific success can’t be duplicated.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
In peak-pandemic times, even something as simple as working out was a challenge, so his coaches at Forest Hills Northern High School personally delivered weights to players’ homes.
—Bomani Jones, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Plus, Musgraves personally invited the Mariachi Brothers—the award-winning trio of Antonio, Caleb, and Joshua Gámez-Cuéllar, who were detained by ICE in February and released the following month following local outcry—to open her three Texas concerts.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for personally
Cite this Entry
“Personally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personally. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
personally
adverb
per·son·al·ly
ˈpərs-nə-lē
-ᵊn-ə-
1
: in person
attend to the matter personally
2
: as a person : in personality
personally attractive
3
: for oneself : as far as oneself is concerned
personally, I am against it
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