anything

American  

[en-ee-thing] / ˈɛn iˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. any thing whatever; something, no matter what.

   Do you have anything for a toothache?

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noun

1. a thing of any kind.

adverb

1. in any degree; to any extent; in any way; at all.

   Does it taste anything like chocolate?

idioms

1. 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!

2. anything but, in no degree or respect; not in the least.

   The plans were anything but definite.

anything British  

/ ˈɛnɪˌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. any object, event, action, etc, whatever

   anything might happen

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noun

1. a thing of any kind

   have you anything to declare?

adverb

1. in any way

   he wasn't anything like his father

2. by no means; not in the least

   she was anything but happy

3. (intensifier; usually euphemistic)

   he ran like anything

anything More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing anything

• can't do anything with
• if anything
• like anything
• not anything like

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Etymology

Origin of anything

before 900; Middle English ani thing, eni thing, Old English ǣnig thing. See any, thing ¹

Example Sentences

The PGA Tour’s app is more of a billboard than anything else.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2026

Download rules state anything confiscated will not be returned.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

"So anything perceived to be negative for equities, from higher inflation to even the potential for rate hikes, will knock the market off its footing after a historic run."

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays are particles from space that slam into Earth with energies far beyond anything produced by human-built particle accelerators.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

Joyce asked, her smile sharpening, narrowing, when Bee still didn’t say anything.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• all
• everything