themselves

Universal Words pronoun 1 (the reflexive form of they) used when people or animals performing an action are also affected by it: They seemed to be enjoying themselves. * The children were arguing amongst themselves. * They've bought themselves a new VCR. 2 used to emphasize they or a plural subject: They themselves had had a similar experience. * Don and Julie paid for it themselves. 3 used instead of himself or herself to refer to a person whose sex is not mentioned or not known: There wasn't anyone who hadn't enjoyed themselves. IDIOMS (all) by themselves 1 alone; without anyone else: They wanted to spend the evening by themselves. 2 without help: They did the cooking by themselves. (all) to themselves for them alone; not shared with anyone