# themselves

/ðəmˈsɛɫvz/ (US) · /ðɛmsˈɛlvz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. reflexive use (plural)

pronoun · CEFR A2

used when a group of people do something to or for themselves.

For teachers: the reflexive form of 'they', used when the object of a verb or preposition is the same as the plural subject.

- The children were old enough to dress themselves for school.
- The board members found themselves in a difficult position after the quarterly results were leaked to the press.

### 2. emphasis

pronoun · CEFR B1

used to emphasize that a specific group of people did something, rather than someone else.

For teachers: used as an intensive pronoun to emphasize the plural subject or object in a sentence.

- The directors themselves attended the meeting to show their support.
- While the staff prepared the venue, the athletes themselves were responsible for checking their own equipment before the race.

### 3. singular reflexive

pronoun · CEFR B2

used for one person when you do not know if they are male or female, or to be inclusive.

For teachers: the reflexive form of the singular 'they', used to refer to a single person of unspecified or non-binary gender.

- If a student has a question, they should ask themselves if the answer is in the book.
- Every individual must decide for themselves whether the risks of the procedure outweigh the potential benefits.

Usage: In formal contexts, some writers still prefer 'himself or herself', but 'themselves' is increasingly standard for singular use.

## Examples

- They taught themselves how to play the guitar.
- The children were old enough to look after themselves while their parents went to the grocery store.
- In modern English, it is increasingly common for a speaker to refer to an individual as 'themselves' to maintain gender neutrality or respect the subject's non-binary identity.

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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.