personally

7 definitions • 9 examples

used when you give your opinion:

Personally (speaking), I think the show is going to be a great success.

affecting you and not anyone else:

He believes that parents should be made personally responsible for their children's behaviour.

done by you and not by someone else:

These figures should be correct because I've checked them personally.

to think that someone is offending you when they are not:

These criticisms should not be taken personally (= they are not meant to criticize any one person in particular).

Personally can refer to yourself or your own opinion:

Personally, I think their marriage won’t last.

I haven’t been there personally, but I’ve read a lot about it.

If you do something personally, you do it yourself rather than asking someone else to do it:

He plans to personally direct the fund-raising drive.

He believes that parents should be made personally responsible for their children’s behavior.

Personally also refers to an intentionally offensive remark about someone’s character or appearance or which is understood as being critical:

Please don’t take this personally, but I think you need to brush your teeth.