me
me
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "me" is /miː/.
/miː/
Word Form Variations
Pronoun: me (objective case, singular first person)
Noun: me (informal, referring to one's self or personality) - no plural in this sense.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Pronoun
Definition 1: The objective case of "I," referring to the speaker or writer. Used as the object of a verb or preposition.
Synonyms: myself (reflexive), (informal) I (when used as subject, though grammatically incorrect)
Antonyms: you, him, her, us, them (as other pronouns)
Definition 2 (informal): Used in informal contexts as a subject, especially in conjunction with "and" or another pronoun. (Though grammatically prescriptive grammar advises against this, it's common in speech.)
Example usage: "Me and John are going to the concert."
Synonyms: I (prescriptive), myself (emphatic)
Antonyms: (No direct antonym for this specific informal usage)
Definition 3 (informal/dialectal): Used instead of "my" before a gerund or noun.
Example usage: "He gave me a good talking to."
Synonyms: my (prescriptive), mine (possessive)
Antonyms: (No direct antonym)
Noun
Definition 1 (informal): One's self or personality; one's existence or identity.
Synonyms: self, ego, identity, being, essence
Antonyms: other, non-self, alter ego (as distinct self)
Definition 2 (informal): A particular aspect or version of oneself.
Synonyms: persona, side, aspect, facet
Antonyms: (No direct antonym)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He looked at me with an intensity that made me feel completely exposed." (Fictional example from a dramatic novel)
"To understand the complex algorithm, the instructor advised me to first review the basic principles." (From a non-fiction textbook or instructional guide)
"Tell me what happened, exactly." (A common line of dialogue in a mystery or suspense novel)
Newspapers:
"The public asked that the new policy be explained to them, not just to technical experts." ("Daily Nation,")
"The recent economic downturn has affected many, including me, making daily expenses a challenge." ("The Standard,")
"Please send me your comments and suggestions regarding the proposed budget reforms." ("Business Daily Africa,")
Online Publications:
"My journey to becoming a digital nomad: follow me as I explore remote work from Bali." (An article on a personal travel or lifestyle blog, e.g., Nomadic Matt,)
"Click here to contact me directly for collaborations or inquiries." (A common call to action on a personal portfolio or business website)
"This new privacy feature allows users to control exactly who can see their data." (A tech news report on "The Verge,") - This uses "their" rather than "me" to reflect a general user, but is relevant to data privacy often affecting "me" as an individual.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Here's looking at you, kid." (Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in Casablanca, 1942) - While the line is about "you," the reciprocal nature of the gaze often implies "you looking at me."
Television Series: "Tell me about it, brother!" (A common informal expression of agreement or shared frustration, e.g., Friends)
Song Lyrics: "Me, myself, and I, that's all I got in the end." (From a pop or R&B song about self-reliance)
Video Games: "Help me! I'm trapped in here!" (Dialogue from a non-player character in need of assistance, e.g., The Legend of Zelda)
Podcasts: "Join me next week as I interview a leading expert on quantum physics." (A podcast host's closing remarks)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you pass the salt to me, please?" (A common request at the dinner table)
"He gave me a ride home after the party." (A casual statement about transportation)
"Don't bother me right now, I'm busy." (A common instruction when someone is occupied)
"She told me a fascinating story about her trip to the Maasai Mara." (A casual sharing of an experience)
"It's for me!" (An exclamation when receiving something desired)
10 Quotes Using Me
"Give me liberty, or give me death!" – Patrick Henry
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail for me." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
"To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle." – Walt Whitman
"You talkin' to me?" – Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), Taxi Driver
"Me, I’m dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly." – Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean
"It's not you. It's me." – Common breakup line (popularized in TV and film, especially Seinfeld)
"Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened to me." – Dr. Seuss (attributed)
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope." – Princess Leia, Star Wars
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." – Benjamin Franklin
"Don’t judge me. You can’t handle half of what I’ve dealt with." – Tupac Shakur (attributed)
Etymology
The word "me" is one of the oldest and most fundamental words in the English language, with incredibly deep roots.
It comes directly from the Old English word mē (pronounced something like "may").
This Old English word was the objective case (meaning it's used as the object of a verb or preposition) of the first-person singular pronoun "I."
Mē itself traces back to the Proto-Germanic word mek and then to an even older Proto-Indo-European root (me- or meh₁-), which was the basic form for the first-person singular objective pronoun across many ancient languages.
So, the first known use of "me" in English, with the meaning of "the speaker or writer as the object of an action or preposition," dates back to before the 9th century (Old English period). It has been a core part of how English speakers refer to themselves when they are the recipient of an action or are affected by something for over a thousand years.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Me
Catch me if you can: A challenge to someone to keep up or outsmart one.
Woe is me: An exclamation of self-pity or distress.
Give me a break!: An exclamation of exasperation or disbelief.
Believe me: Used to emphasize the truth or sincerity of what one is saying.
Excuse me: A polite way to apologize, get attention, or pass by.
Leave me alone: A request for solitude or to be unbothered.
It's all Greek to me: Used to say that one does not understand something at all.
Let me see: Used as a pause or to indicate one is thinking.
For the life of me: Despite one's best efforts (used in negative constructions, e.g., "I can't for the life of me remember").
Count me in/out: To include or exclude oneself from an activity.
Talk to me: (Informal) Encourage someone to speak openly. (Synonym for "share your thoughts with me")
Me time: Time spent alone for personal relaxation or pursuits.
Don't mind me: Used to indicate one's presence is not a bother or that one is not participating.
It takes two to tango: A situation involving two parties, implying shared responsibility. (Metaphorically, it takes "me" and someone else).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of me from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
