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

See Examples For:

themselves

The member of the Groundlings main company has made guest appearances throughout the year with the Joes, sometimes catching themselves watching in admiration and forgetting they were in the show.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

"I always think the players select themselves," he added.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

"These ubiquitous little beads of rock are the basic building blocks from which the planets themselves were eventually assembled," Grewal said.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

Scammers can wrest control of the verified account—no matter if the profile is a schoolteacher or an engineer—and list themselves as recruiters for real companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

After a few days of argument, these men took some supplies, deserted the Advance, and set off across the ice to try to save themselves.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock