ourselves

American  

[ahr-selvz, au^uhr-, au-er-] / ɑrˈsɛlvz, aʊər-, ˌaʊ ər- /

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.

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ourselves British  

/ 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

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Usage

See myself.

Etymology

Origin of ourselves

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ourselves

Our country began with a quest for abundant land, and we now find ourselves facing self-inflicted housing shortages.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Now, scientists have discovered that these painful episodes activate a surprising part of the brain, one closely connected to our sense of identity and how we think about ourselves.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

“Of thinking beyond ourselves, our immediate desires and thirst for gratification, and embracing our differences as strengths. It was a lovely illusion.”

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

Now we’re trying to figure out whether it’s time to give ourselves permission to enjoy more of what we’ve worked so hard to accumulate.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

“It will be cool and wet and we’ll march ourselves in.”

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

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