them ‧ selves S1 W1 /ðəmˈselvz/ BrE AmE pronoun
1 . used to show that the people who do something are affected by their own action:
Teachers have no choice but to take measures to protect themselves.
Our neighbours have just bought themselves a jacuzzi.
The kids seem very pleased with themselves.
2 . used to emphasize the pronoun ‘they’, a plural noun etc:
Doctors themselves are the first to admit the treatment has side effects.
3 . used after words like ‘everyone’, ‘anyone’, ‘no one’ etc when you talk about someone already mentioned and you do not know what sex they are or it is not important. Many teachers think this is not correct English:
Someone told me they’d actually seen the accident happen themselves.
4 . in themselves ( also in and of themselves ) considered without other related ideas or situations:
The carvings are works of art in themselves, even disregarding their religious significance.
5 . (all) by themselves
a) alone:
older people who are living all by themselves
b) without help from anyone else:
Did the children make the model all by themselves?
6 . (all) to themselves if people have something to themselves, they do not have to share it with anyone:
They had the whole beach to themselves.
7 . not be/feel themselves if people are not themselves, they do not feel or behave in the way they usually do because they are nervous, upset, or ill