anyhow

American  

[en-ee-hou] / ˈɛn iˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in any way whatever.

2. in any case; at all events.

3. in a careless manner; haphazardly.

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anyhow British  

/ ˈɛnɪˌhaʊ /

adverb

1. in any case; at any rate

2. in any manner or by any means whatever

3. in a haphazard manner; carelessly

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Etymology

Origin of anyhow

First recorded in 1730–40; any + how ¹

Compare meaning

How does anyhow compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anyhow vs. anyway

Explanation

Use the adverb anyhow to emphasize or support something you've just said. You might say, "I'm not going to bother studying those dates for history class — they're not going to be on the test anyhow." The word anyhow is usually just another way to say anyway. You could say, for example, "I won't be going for a run today, not if it's as hot as yesterday anyhow." Another way to use anyhow is to mean "in a haphazard way" or "randomly." Your mom might complain that people just toss things in the fridge anyhow. The word has been used in American English since the mid-1700s.

Example Sentences

Anyhow, what I remember most vividly were military exercises where we’d run through different potentially world-ending scenarios.

From Salon • Dec. 7, 2025

Anyhow, I asked Karsten: what does “important” mean here?

From Scientific American • Jun. 1, 2023

Anyhow, if Francis sits this deadline out, it might indeed prove to be the correct call.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2023

Anyhow, most people would be at the Christmas Parade tonight, so he’d have the place to himself.

From Slate • Dec. 24, 2022

Anyhow, we were sitting on the terrace of the Café Select, and Harvey Stone had just crossed the street.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

Related Words

• anyway