Themselves (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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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:
    • (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.
  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.
pronoun
    • the reflexive form of they or them
    • (intensifier)
  2. their normal or usual selves
  3. a reflexive form of an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody
Themselves (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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