ourselves

[ahr-selvz, ou^uhr-, ou-er-]

pronoun

1. a reflexive form of we (used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the direct object of a preposition).

   We are deceiving ourselves. Give us a moment to ourselves.

2. (used as an intensive withwe ).

   We ourselves would never say such a thing.

3. Informal.,  (used in place of we or us, especially in compound subjects, objects, and complements).

   The children and ourselves thank you kindly. When it satisfies ourselves, it will be ready to market. The ones who really want the new system are the manager and ourselves.

4. (used in place of we or us after as, than, orbut ).

   How many parents are as fortunate as ourselves? No one loves skiing more than ourselves. Nobody heard it but ourselves.

5. our customary, normal, or healthy selves.

   After a good rest, we're almost ourselves again.

ourselves

/ aʊəˈsɛlvz /

pronoun

1. 1. the reflexive form of we or us

   2. (intensifier)

      we ourselves will finish it

2. (preceded by a copula) our usual selves

   we are ourselves when we're together

3. not_standard,  used instead of we or us in compound noun phrases

   other people and ourselves

Usage

See myself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ourselves¹

1300–50; Middle English oure selven; our, self, -en ⁴, -s ³

Example Sentences

"As archaeologists, we have to leave ourselves open to different kinds of thinking," Kidder said.

Read more on Science Daily

"When we saw Jimmy Cliff, we saw ourselves," he said.

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“If we knew what the Israelis are doing, we could at least figure out what to do ourselves.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Those stats were a reality for Stoke in our difficult first three seasons in the Premier League, when we were looking to establish ourselves in the top flight.

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Prime Minister Robert Golob, who voted in advance, has urged citizens to back the law "so that each of us can decide for ourselves how and with what dignity we will end our lives".

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