DictionaryAI

ourselves

pronoun
ow-ur-SELVZ/aʊɚˈsɛlvz/UKow-uh-SELVZ/aʊəˈsɛlvz/

3 meanings of ourselves

Practice

  1. 1
    back to uspronounreflexive
    Used in place of 'us' when the people referred to, including the speaker, are also the subject of the clause.

    We promised ourselves a long break once the project was finished.

    After the argument, we found ourselves apologizing at the same moment.

    UsageUsed when we is also the subject, as in we enjoyed ourselves, find ourselves or keep it to ourselves.

    Note

    The true reflexive: subject and object are the same people, so English needs the -selves form rather than plain us. A quick test separates it from the emphatic use. Take ourselves out and this sentence collapses (we should keep this news to…), while the emphatic one survives intact.

  2. 2
    pronounemphatic
    Used for emphasis, to stress that the group including the speaker is the one that performs or experiences what is said, often meaning without help.

    We painted every room ourselves rather than hiring contractors.

    We ourselves were surprised by how quickly the plan came together.

    UsageRight after the subject it stresses who (we ourselves were surprised); at the end it usually means without help (we did it ourselves).

  3. 3
    meaning youpronouncolloquial
    Used by a speaker to mean 'you' (one person or a group being addressed), as a warm way of speaking that can also sound patronizing.

    Right, are we settling ourselves in nicely back there?

    The teacher frowned at the two boys giggling by the window and said, "Are we quite pleased with ourselves?"

    UsageUsually in a question with we as the subject, as in are we enjoying ourselves?

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of ourselves apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Formed from "our" combined with the plural ending "-selves."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts