themselves

/ðɛmsˈɛlvz/

/ðəmˈsɛɫvz/, /ðɛmˈsɛɫvz/

themselves

used when a group of people or animals are both the ones who do an action and the ones who are affected by it

Examples

1. Parents should involve themselves in their child's education.

2. Boys his age are a law unto themselves.

3. Due to the economic downturn, many people are finding themselves on the dole for extended periods.

4. These problems are not going to fix themselves.