themselves

[ thuhm-selvz, them- ]

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.

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

    • (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.

    • (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.

    • (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.

  2. (used in place of they or them after as, than, or but): no soldiers braver than themselves; As for the entertainers, everyone got paid but themselves.

  3. their usual, normal, characteristic selves: After a hot meal and a few hours' rest, they were themselves again.

Origin of themselves

1
First recorded in 1300–50; them + selves; replacing themself,Middle English thamself; see self

usage note For themselves

See myself, they.

Words Nearby themselves

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use themselves in a sentence

  • This mania for correction shows itself too in relation to the authorities themselves.

    Children's Ways | James Sully
  • All our intelligent students will insist upon learning what they can of these discussions and forming opinions for themselves.

    The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
  • Her eyes, for a moment, fixed themselves with a horrid conviction of a wide and nameless treachery.

  • His lordship retired shortly to his study, Hetton and Mr. Haggard betook themselves to the billiard-room.

  • All the operations of her brain related themselves somehow to to-morrow afternoon.

    Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for themselves

themselves

/ (ðəmˈsɛlvz) /


pronoun
    • the reflexive form of they or them

    • (intensifier): the team themselves voted on it

  1. (preceded by a copula) their normal or usual selves: they don't seem themselves any more

  1. Also: themself not standard a reflexive form of an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody: everyone has to look after themselves

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012