themselves

American  

[thuhm-selvz, them-] / ðəmˈsɛlvz, ˌðɛm- /

pronoun

1. a reflexive form of plural they used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition.

   They washed themselves quickly. The painters gave themselves a week to finish the work. The noisy passengers drew attention to themselves.

2. an emphatic form of them or they.

   The authors themselves left the theater. The contract was written by the partners themselves.

3. a reflexive form of singular they used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition.

   1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      No one who ignores the law can call themselves a good citizen.

   2. (used to refer to a specific or known person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      I want to help my friend who is harming themselves.

   3. (used to refer to a nonbinary or gender-nonconforming person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      Ash introduced themselves to the job recruiter.

4. (used in place of they or them after as, than, orbut ).

   no soldiers braver than themselves; As for the entertainers, everyone got paid but themselves.

5. their usual, normal, characteristic selves.

   After a hot meal and a few hours' rest, they were themselves again.

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themselves British  

/ ðəmˈsɛlvz /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of they or them

   2. (intensifier)

      the team themselves voted on it

2. (preceded by a copula) their normal or usual selves

   they don't seem themselves any more

3. Also: themself.  not_standard a reflexive form of an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody

   everyone has to look after themselves

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Usage

See myself, they.

Etymology

Origin of themselves

First recorded in 1300–50; them + selves; replacing themself, Middle English thamself; self

Example Sentences

He also urged people not to try and capture snapping turtles themselves, saying they would likely try to defend themselves by biting.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

The accounts themselves aren’t new, but what you can do with them fundamentally changed.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Walker often plays professional women forced to button down their emotions more than occasionally, in part because the struggle not to cry is considered more powerful, and interesting to watch, than the tears themselves.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

The smiling group of eight at some point found themselves at odds with each other over their unifying prayer.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

Three girls fly past us, their strides so smooth it doesn’t look like they’re even exerting themselves.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison