anything
Americanpronoun
noun
adverb
idioms
-
anything goes, any type of conduct, dress, speech, etc., is considered acceptable or valid or is likely to be encountered and tolerated.
That resort is a place where anything goes!
-
anything but, in no degree or respect; not in the least.
The plans were anything but definite.
pronoun
noun
adverb
-
in any way
he wasn't anything like his father
-
by no means; not in the least
she was anything but happy
-
(intensifier; usually euphemistic)
he ran like anything
Etymology
Origin of anything
before 900; Middle English ani thing, eni thing, Old English ǣnig thing. See any, thing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Butcher is aware on some level that he has this scorched-earth mentality and that he’s willing to do anything to get what he wants — and he needs someone to pull him back,” Quaid says.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Download rules state anything confiscated will not be returned.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Most people value being healthy and living longer more than anything else.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
The PGA Tour’s app is more of a billboard than anything else.
From Slate • Jun. 10, 2026
“No, not surprised—just over it. My aunt said the Faith and Honor people are planning to march. Did you hear anything about that?”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
