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.

---

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

---

Usage

See myself, they.

Etymology

Origin of themselves

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

Example Sentences

However, the point is that users can read the full audit reports and assess the service themselves.

From Salon

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called the chants "intolerable" and said "violent people use football to carve out a space for themselves".

From BBC

By applying this effect to sequences of light pulses, including single photons, the researchers created a system where signals can effectively reconstruct themselves over time as they travel through optical fiber.

From Science Daily

Many people with these schedules do not consider themselves shift workers and instead see their routine as simply starting the day earlier than usual.

From Science Daily

There are people who find themselves trapped in organized crime and unfortunately, the rate of people getting out once they’re in is low.

From Los Angeles Times