themselves

[ thuhm-selvz, them- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

pronoun

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.
an emphatic form of them or they:
The authors themselves left the theater. The contract was written by the partners themselves.
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.
(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.
their usual, normal, characteristic selves:
After a hot meal and a few hours' rest, they were themselves again.

themselves

/ ðə��ˈ��ɛ�� /

pronoun

1. the reflexive form of they or them
2. (intensifier)
  the team themselves voted on it
preceded by a copula their normal or usual selves
they don't seem themselves any more
not_standard.
Alsothemself a reflexive form of an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody
everyone has to look after themselves

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Usage Note

See myself, they.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of themselves¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But the Clippers struggled in the first quarter, putting themselves in a hole from the start.

From

The CCC points to the rising number of deaths linked to extreme heat and hospitals themselves being vulnerable to hot weather.

From

After the lawsuit was filed, Border Patrol issued notice to their agents about how to make a warrantless arrest and identify themselves as agents during arrests.

From

The unsuspecting saints may be gone by the time they realize that the pedestal to which we annexed them was a cliff or tripwire trapping them in the theater of an idea of themselves.

From

They arrange themselves facing Bob, who sits at center stage, and do not take their eyes off him for one minute.

From

themself them's fighting words

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