themselves

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[edit] English

Most common English words: power « mother « often « #266: themselves » half » certain » sent

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Pronoun

themselves personal pronoun

  1. (the reflexive case of they, the third-person plural personal pronoun) The people previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition, where the people are also the subject of the verb; also used for emphasis.
    (reflexively): They’ve hurt themselves.
    (after a preposition): They fought among themselves.
    (for emphasis): They are going to try climbing Mount Everest themselves.
  2. The person of unspecified gender previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition, where the person is also the subject of the verb; also used for emphasis.
    (reflexively): Would whoever stole my phone please make themselves known.
    (after a preposition): They’ve brought this on themselves.
    (for emphasis): The children did this themselves.

[edit] Usage notes

  • For notes on the usage referring to a person of unspecified gender, see the usage notes for they.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] See also

the English reflexive pronouns
singular plural
1st myself ourselves
2nd yourself, thyself yourselves, thyselves
3rd himself/herself/itself/oneself themselves

[edit] Translations

the reflexive case of they, the third-person plural personal pronoun
the persons of unspecified gender previously mentioned, as the object of a verb or following a preposition
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