Themselves

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ðɛmˈsÉ›lvz/, /ðəmˈsÉ›lvz/
• Hyphenation: them + selves

Full definition of themselves

Pronoun

1. The people previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition, where the people are also the subject of the verb; also used for emphasis.reflexively:
   They’ve hurt themselves.
   after a preposition:
   They fought among themselves.
   for emphasis:
   They are going to try climbing Mount Everest themselves.
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 16, The preposterous altruism too!...Resist not evil. It is an insane immolation of self—as bad intrinsically as fakirs stabbing themselves or anchorites warping their spines in caves scarcely large enough for a fair-sized dog.
2. The person of unspecified gender previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition, where the person is also the subject of the verb; also used for emphasis.reflexively:
   Would whoever stole my phone please make themselves known.
   after a preposition:
   They’ve brought this on themselves.
   for emphasis:
   The children did this themselves.
• 1611, King James Bible, :Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Usage notes

For notes on the usage referring to a person of unspecified gender, see the usage notes for they.

Synonyms

• (non-gender-specific, singular) themself
• (gender-specific, singular) himself, herself