Ourselves: meaning, definitions and examples
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ourselves
[ ˌaʊərˈsɛlvz ]
reflexive
Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a group including the speaker and one or more other people previously mentioned or easily identified.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| ourselves |
Used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same group of people. Often used to emphasize that the action is done by the same group.
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| us |
Objective form of 'we', used when referring to the group that includes the speaker and one or more other people.
|
| ours |
Used as a pronoun to indicate things or people belonging to the speaker and one or more other people.
|
| our own |
Emphasize possession or ownership by a specific group, typically contrasted with something shared or belonging to others.
|
Examples of usage
- We must learn to rely on ourselves in times of need.
- Let's handle this situation by ourselves.
- We owe it to ourselves to pursue our dreams.
emphatic
Used for emphasis or to point out that a person or people are doing something without help.
Synonyms
by ourselves, on our own, personally.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| ourselves |
Repeating this word seems redundant; it's the same word as the first entry. Refer to the previous definition.
|
| personally |
Used when the speaker wants to express their personal involvement or opinion in a matter.
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| by ourselves |
Used when the group including the speaker is completely alone while doing something or emphasizing isolation.
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| on our own |
Used often to signify independence or self-reliance without any external help or support.
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Examples of usage
- We painted the house ourselves.
- She baked the cake herself.
- They built the treehouse themselves.
Translations
Translations of the word "ourselves" in other languages:
🇵🇹 nós mesmos
- nós próprias
- nós próprios
🇮🇳 खुद
- स्वयं
- अपने आप
🇩🇪 uns selbst
🇮🇩 diri kita sendiri
🇺🇦 самі
🇵🇱 sami
🇯🇵 私たち自身
🇫🇷 nous-mêmes
🇪🇸 nosotros mismos
🇹🇷 kendimiz
🇰🇷 우리 자신
🇸🇦 أنفسنا
🇨🇿 sami
🇸🇰 sami
🇨🇳 我们自己
🇸🇮 mi sami
🇮🇸 sjálfir
🇰🇿 өзіміз
🇬🇪 ჩვენ თვითონ
🇦🇿 özümüz
🇲🇽 nosotros mismos
Etymology
The word 'ourselves' is derived from the Old English word 'ūre selfa', which means 'our own self'. It has been used in the English language for centuries, evolving from Middle English to its modern form. The pronoun 'ourselves' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate a reflexive or emphatic action by a group of people including the speaker.