any

[ en-ee ]

adjective

1. one, a, an, or some; one or more without specification or identification:

   If you have any witnesses, produce them. Pick out any six you like.

2. whatever or whichever it may be:

   cheap at any price.

3. in whatever quantity or number, great or small; some:

   Do you have any butter?

4. every; all:

   Any schoolboy would know that. Read any books you find on the subject.

5. (following a negative) at all:

   She can't endure any criticism.

pronoun

1. an unspecified person or persons; anybody; anyone:

   He does better than any before him.

2. a single one or ones; an unspecified thing or things; a quantity or number:

   We don't have any left.

adverb

1. in whatever degree; to some extent; at all:

   Do you feel any better?

any

/ ˈɛnɪ /

determiner

1. 1. one, some, or several, as specified, no matter how much or many, what kind or quality, etc

      any cheese in the cupboard is yours

      you may take any clothes you like

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      take any you like

2. usually used with a negative
   1. even the smallest amount or even one

      I can't stand any noise

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      don't give her any

3. whatever or whichever; no matter what or which

   any dictionary will do

   any time of day

4. an indefinite or unlimited amount or number (esp in the phrases any amount or number )

   any number of friends

adverb

1. usually used with a negative
   1. foll by a comparative adjective to even the smallest extent

      it isn't any worse now

   2. at all

      he doesn't care any

Confusables Note

See some.

Word History and Origins

Origin of any¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English eni, ani, Old English ǣnig ( Old English ān one + -ig -y ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of any¹

Old English ǣnig; related to Old Frisian ēnig, Old High German einag, Old Norse einigr anyone, Latin ūnicus unique; see an ¹, one

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. any which way, in any manner whatever; indifferently or carelessly:

   Doing your work any which way is just not good enough.

More idioms and phrases containing any

• at any rate
• by any means
• go to any length
• in any case
• under any (no) circumstances

Example Sentences

The open-up-to-any-chapter method might, in fact, be the best approach here.

From The Daily Beast

Stalking the unexpected is “an all-year-round, any-kind-of-weather sport,” she says.

From The Daily Beast

For he's the soul of honor, Thyrsis; and he can't help how he feels about me-any more than I can help it.

From Project Gutenberg

I appeal to yourself, Madam, whether these sublime notions have-any thing consoling in them?

From Project Gutenberg

They take their coats off anywhere and any-when, and somehow it strikes the visitor as the most symbolic thing about them.

From Project Gutenberg

Hyphens are sometimes used in cases like the following: "A never-to-be-forgotten event," "peace-at-any-rate principles."

From Project Gutenberg

On the fall of Richmond, and the surrender of Lee, this any-how impracticable scheme was necessarily abandoned.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• all
• each
• either
• several