the reflexive form of they or them (intensifier): the team themselves voted on it - (preceded by a copula)
their normal or usual selves: they don't seem themselves any more - Also: themself
a reflexive form of an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody: everyone has to look after themselves
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
them•selves /ðəmˈsɛlvz, ˌðɛm-/USA pronunciation
pron. [plural]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- 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.
- (used to emphasize a plural noun):The authors themselves left the theater.
- (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. - their normal or customary selves:After a few hours' rest, they were themselves again.
them•selves
(ᵺəm selvz′, ᵺem′-),USA pronunciation pron.pl.
- 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 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.
- (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.
- (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.
- 1300–50; them + selves; replacing themself, Middle English thamself; see self
- See myself.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::