ENGLISH
REFERENCE

selves

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsɛɫvz// UK //sˈɛlvz// selves

n. the plural form of 'self'. It refers to the different parts of your personality or the identities of several people.

n. the plural of 'self'; refers to the distinct identities or essential qualities of multiple individuals. Often used in psychological or philosophical contexts to discuss various aspects of a single person's character.


SIMPLE

We all have different selves that we show to different people.

CONTEXTUAL

The workshop encouraged participants to explore their creative selves through painting and music.

COMPLEX

In her memoir, the author examines how her various selves—the immigrant, the scholar, and the mother—often came into conflict during her first decade in the country.

Synonyms
Usage

The plural of 'self'. When used as a suffix in reflexive pronouns like 'ourselves' or 'themselves', it is written as one word.

Pitfall

They did it by theirselves.They did it by themselves.The reflexive pronoun for 'they' is 'themselves'; 'theirselves' is a common non-standard error.

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