themselves
gb/ðəmsˈɛlvz/ us/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
A2
English
~ 500
Senses
0 senses
pronoun
A2
relation
1
Reflexive pronoun for 'they'
Used when 'they' do something to the same people or things that are the subject.
Usage pattern:
[they] [verb] themselves
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'themselves' with 'each other'. 'They saw themselves' means they saw their own reflection, while 'They saw each other' means they saw one another.
Synonyms
their own selves (A more emphatic or formal way to say 'themselves')
Antonyms
others (Refers to people different from the subject, opposite of reflexive reference)
Collocations
by themselves
|for themselves
|to themselves
|among themselves
Themes
grammar
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- They taught themselves how to play the guitar.
- The children dressed themselves without help.
- They blame themselves for the mistake.
- The team congratulated themselves after the win.
Learner examples
- They made dinner for themselves.
- The kids washed themselves.
- They looked at themselves in the mirror.
- They helped themselves to food.
pronoun
B1
relation
2
Emphatic pronoun for 'they'
Used to show it was really 'they' and not someone else who did something.
Usage pattern:
[they] themselves [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes place 'themselves' incorrectly in the sentence. For emphasis, it typically comes right after the subject or at the end of a clause.
Synonyms
personally (Can be used similarly for emphasis, but is an adverb and not a pronoun)
Collocations
they themselves said
|they themselves admitted
|they themselves decided
Themes
grammar
|emphasis
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- They themselves admitted it was a bad idea.
- The players themselves chose the coach.
- The witnesses themselves confirmed the story.
Learner examples
- They themselves started the project.
- The teachers themselves wrote the exam.
- The workers themselves fixed the problem.
pronoun
A2
state
3
Alone without help or company
Used when 'they' are alone or do something without help from anyone else.
Usage pattern:
by themselves
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'by themselves' with 'themselves' as a simple reflexive; 'by' adds the meaning of being alone or independent.
Synonyms
alone ('Alone' is an adjective/adverb; 'by themselves' is a phrase with similar meaning)
Antonyms
together (Indicates being with others, opposite of alone)
Collocations
all by themselves
|live by themselves
Themes
independence
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- They live by themselves in the countryside.
- The children went to school by themselves for the first time.
- They traveled by themselves across Europe.
Learner examples
- They went to the park by themselves.
- The boy fixed the bike by himself.
- They cooked by themselves.
Grammar
Dictionary form
themselves
IPA
GB/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
US/ðəmsˈɛlvz/
Syllables & stress
them - selves (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (selves)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: themselves
- Plural: themselveses
Word family
Expressions
be beside themselves (with emotion)
1/bˈi bɪsˈaɪd ðəmsˈɛlvz wˈɪθ ɪmˈoʊʃən/
idiom
Extremely upset or excited
To be very upset, angry, or excited.
Examples
- They were beside themselves with joy at the news.
- The parents were beside themselves with worry.
by themselves
1/bˈaɪ ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
Alone without help or company
Without help from anyone else; alone.
Examples
- They finished the project by themselves.
- The children went to school by themselves for the first time.
in and of themselves
1/ˈɪn ˈænd əv ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
formal
Considered alone, without outside factors
Looked at alone, without thinking about anything else.
Examples
- These facts, in and of themselves, are not enough to prove guilt.
- In and of themselves, the changes seem small.
keep to themselves
1/kˈip tə ðəmsˈɛlvz/
fixed phrase
Avoid social interaction with others
To not talk or mix much with other people.
Examples
- They tend to keep to themselves at parties.
- The new neighbors keep to themselves most of the time.