# selves

/ˈsɛɫvz/ (US) · /sˈɛlvz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/selves
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. plural of self

noun · CEFR B2

more than one 'self' — used when talking about the identities of several people.

For teachers: the plural form of 'self', denoting the individual identities or personalities of a group of people.

- After the long holiday, they all felt like their normal selves again.
- The workshop encouraged the participants to reflect on how their public selves often differed from their private identities.

### 2. facets of personality

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the different parts of one person's character that appear in different situations.

For teachers: the various aspects or manifestations of an individual's personality, often viewed as distinct internal entities.

- She felt as though her professional and creative selves were in conflict.
- Modern psychology often explores the idea of multiple selves, suggesting that an individual may possess different internal personas for different social contexts.

## Examples

- We all have different selves that we show to different people.
- The workshop encouraged participants to explore their creative selves through painting and music.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.