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.

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, or but ):

   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.

themselves

/ 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. not_standard.
   Alsothemself a reflexive form of an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody

   everyone has to look after themselves

Usage Note

See myself, they.

Word History and Origins

Origin of themselves¹

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

Example Sentences

Then there is the nature of the tactics themselves.

From BBC

“We’ve seen law enforcement officers themselves use the data for their own purposes,” said Electronic Frontier Foundation Director of Investigations Dave Maass.

From Los Angeles Times

Their stories show that bans have profoundly painful consequences, even for people who may not see themselves as abortion seekers.

From Slate

His team insist he would carry on, and point out other ministers in the health department disagree with him, so it is certain some health ministers will find themselves on the losing side of the argument.

From BBC

Instead, he seemed to claim its impacts were themselves arguments justifying his violence.

From Salon