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Glite Dictionary
to assert oneself

to assert oneself

6 6.0
Speak or act confidently so people notice and respect you
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : afirmarse
  • In the meeting, she confidently asserted herself and shared her innovative ideas with the team.

Being able to stand on on ones own right, being able to to assert oneself in the the realm of being and vertically Geltinda.

Examples

  • If you're being dehumanized socially, assert yourself and walk away.

    Blog text (34)

  • Don't wait for permission, assert yourself and impose your will on the status quo.

    Incredibles 2 (2018)

  • Now you get on back in there and assert yourself.

    Rango (2011)

  • It's time to assert yourself.

    1776 (1972)

  • Jody, it's time to assert yourself.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • I'm genuinely concerned about how this person might respond if I assert myself.

    Blog text (30)

  • I've got to assert myself sometime.

    Fame (1980)

  • I don't know who I am, and I never will if I don't assert myself.

    Fame (1980)

  • The feud continues, and Yngvildr continues to assert herself.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Assert yourself.

    The Beautician and the Beast (1997)

Synonyms

to speak out
vsto assert oneself
220 3.4

To say your opinion or feelings openly even when it is difficult

is about confident forceful behavior aiming to be noticed and respected
to speak up
vsto assert oneself
43 2.0

Talk more loudly so people can hear you

is confident forceful speaking to gain respect and presence, not only volume
to stand up for oneself
vsto assert oneself
39 3.9

To say firmly what you need or think when people treat you unfairly

is broader confident force to gain notice and respect rather than only defend
to speak one's mind
vsto assert oneself
  • Informal
21 3.5

Say what you think openly

focuses on confident forceful expression to get respect and attention
to find one's voice
vsto assert oneself
  • Informal
6 5.4

Begin to express your own ideas clearly and confidently

is confident forceful behavior that demands notice rather than gradual growth
to put oneself across
vsto assert oneself
6.7

Express your ideas and personality clearly so others understand you

uses confident force primarily to demand notice and respect

Antonyms

to be quiet
231 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

to shrink back
  • Informal
1 4.7

Move away because you are afraid or disgusted

How Assertive

to assert oneself
6 6.0
to speak up
  • Informal
135 3.1
to keep quiet
90 2.5

Surface Forms

assert oneself infinitive
asserted oneself past
asserted oneself past participle
asserting oneself present participle
asserts oneself third person singular

Morphology

assert + oneself

The meaning is transparently built from 'assert' (to insist or state firmly) plus the reflexive 'oneself' (doing the action to/about oneself), so a learner who knows both words can infer it means to make one's views or presence known confidently. The reflexive construction and its pragmatic sense (behaving/speaking confidently) are common cross-linguistically, so the compound meaning is predictable for B1 learners.

Etymology

Assert oneself comes from the image of a person pushing forward to be seen and heard: to assert is to put your view forward, and oneself means you do it personally. Picture someone stepping into a room and speaking clearly so people look and listen, and you will see why it means 'behave or speak confidently so people notice you and respect your views'.