themselves

UK: /ðəmˈsɛlvz/ US: /ðəmˈsɛlvz, ˌðɛm-/ ,(ᵺəm selvz′, ᵺem′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

them•selves /ðəmˈsɛlvz, ˌðɛm-/   pron. [plural]

1. the reflexive form of the pronoun they, used when the object of a verb or preposition names the same noun as the subject:
   The boys washed themselves quickly.
2. (used to emphasize a plural noun):
   The authors themselves left the theater.
3. (used after a word like no one, everyone, anyone, a person, etc., to refer back to this word;
   it is used instead of the form himself or herself ):
   People who ignore the law cannot call themselves good citizens.
4. their normal or customary selves:
   After a few hours' rest, they were themselves again.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

them•selves  (ᵺəm selvz′, ᵺem′-), pron.pl. 

1. an emphatic form of them or they: The authors themselves left the theater. The contract was written by the partners themselves.
2. a reflexive form of 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.
3. (used after an indefinite singular antecedent in place of the definite masculine himself or the definite feminine herself):
   No one who ignores the law can call themselves a good citizen.
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.

• 1300–50; them + selves; replacing themself, Middle English thamself; see self

Usage

See myself. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

themselves / ðəmˈsɛlvz/ pronoun

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